Ardor
Ardor is a collection that fuses porcelain and glass, exploring the transformative power of merging two seemingly opposing materials. The project captures the fiery process of glassblowing and the meticulous craftsmanship of porcelain, resulting in a dialogue between these distinct materials.
Research
The fusion of porcelain and glass is a challenging yet captivating endeavour. Though both materials transition from liquid to solid through heat, their unique properties—porcelain’s opaque solidity and glass’s ethereal transparency—create a tension that requires thoughtful exploration. Through deep research into their respective processes, Ardor delves into what forms can successfully merge and the precise technical steps required, such as temperature control and timing.
Collaborating with master glassblower Gert Bullée, the project navigates trial and error, with many pieces not working out as initially planned, yet still revealing beauty in their own right. Each successful attempt reflects the resilience and patience needed to refine the fusion of these materials.
Research
Drawing inspiration from the dynamic relationship between earth and fire, Ardor is a reflection of the strength and fragility inherent in both porcelain and glass. The collection blends the purity and opacity of porcelain with the transparency and fluidity of glass, creating pieces that shift in light, revealing new dimensions. The result is a series of artworks that balance solidity with delicacy, offering a rich, layered experience.
Metaphor of power
More than just a technical exploration, Ardor addresses a deeper social message. In a world marked by divisions, the collection serves as a metaphor for the power of integration and harmony. Just as porcelain and glass can merge to create something beautiful, so too can differing perspectives and backgrounds. The contrast between the materials—one opaque, the other transparent—reflects the potential for diverse elements to coexist, complement, and strengthen one another.
Just as porcelain and glass, with their opposing qualities, can be skilfully fused to create something new and harmonious, so too can diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds.
Ardor is not only a visual dialogue between materiality but a metaphor for the ways in which society can evolve by embracing differences, working through tensions, and finding strength in diversity.
The opaque solidity of porcelain and the transparent fluidity of glass become symbols of seemingly irreconcilable forces. Yet, when brought together with care and intention, these materials enhance one another, showing how even the most contrasting elements can coexist, complement, and ultimately create something more beautiful and stronger than the sum of their parts.
Glasblazers: Gert Bullée, Luna Cordaro & Bart Rentmeester
Locatie: Nationale Glasmuseum Leerdam