Oubliette
Oubliette
This piece came to being in reaction to a request for a black Sanctuary. As an artist it is hard to turn away a commission but in this case my idea of “Santuary” could not be black in color. I questioned myself and my motivations / priorities as an artist. Money brings many things - including the means to make more work...I couldn’t do it !! After months and some discussion with friends something started to form. In my refusal to make a black Sanctuary I was given the idea to make its opposite.
Instead of a white sphere, I made a black tear drop shape- immediately suggesting (to me) sadness.
Once made, the piece reminded me of something I had seen, somewhere, sometime.......but I could not not name it.
Then one day an anonymous note was left next to it in my studio with the word ”Oubliette” written on it.
I looked it up - it was PERFECT! /// “Oubliette” is a French term derived from the verb “Oublier” which literally translates to “to forget”. This term was used because the victim once thrown into the Oubliette was considered forgotten by the outside world and remained within the dark confines of the dungeon. A single trap door at the top of the dungeon was the only entrance to Oubliette which was only accessible via a rope or a ladder. 📸: Russell Johnson
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📸: Russell Johnson
Dimensions: 20” h x 11”w x 11”d
For International customers:
After purchase, a shipping quote will be emailed within 24 hours.
If you accept, simply pay the invoice and the piece will go out.
If you decline, you will be refunded and the piece will go back online.
What is Reticello? Simply it is: (Italian, “glass with a small network”) A type of blown glass made with canes organized in a crisscross pattern to form a fine net, which may contain tiny air traps.
Although the theory is simple, the execution is meticulous-
Start by pulling cane with a colored core
Chop cane to length & sort by diameter
Lay out canes on a preheated steel or ceramic plate (typically 30-75 canes)
Heat the plate until the canes fuse together and form a “ribbed” sheet
Roll the sheet up on the end of the blow pipe, thus forming a tube.
Carefully twist the tube and close the end. By closing the tube you create a bubble which can then be inflated
Inflate and further twist the bubble
Make this bubble into a slightly tapered cup with a small hole on the bottom
Maintain this cup while repeating the process over except this time twisting the cane in the opposite direction
Blow the second bubble into the first cup. The opposing directions of the twist make the pattern, the ribbed texture traps an air bubble at every intersection.
Compress and smooth the bubble
Carefully examine and determine whether you have succeeded enough to proceed with blowing a piece … If not, start over ;)
Photo Credit: Russell Johnson