Līvānu Stikla sajūta - (Līvāni Glass sensation)
Glass here is not treated merely as a material, but as a process — hot, unpredictable, and demanding full presence.
Until January 10, 2026, the exhibition Līvānu Glass Sensation is on view at the Līvānu stikla un amatniecības centrs (Līvāni Glass and Crafts Centre), bringing together works by ten Latvian glass artists.
All works were created on site in Līvāni using hot glass and traditional glassblowing techniques, in close collaboration with master glassblower Aleksandrs Logvins and his assistant Ivars Āboltiņš. The project was shaped through direct engagement with temperature, time constraints, and the material’s resistance, treating glass as an active collaborator rather than a passive substance.
For this project, I arrived in Līvāni with pre-prepared plaster and wooden molds that allowed me to directly influence the forming process. The result was a vessel series titled Swell (Saviļņojums), developed through an exploration of reflections, color, and the ability of form to deform light. Particular attention was given to how glass surfaces distort reflections and how dark tones, especially black, intensify and multiply these visual effects.
Experimentation was an essential part of the process. Various tools were tested, including an attempt to engrave the glass while it was still hot using an angle grinder. Contrary to expectations, the material proved extremely resistant at this stage, revealing an unexpected method of engraving prior to annealing.
During the production period, we stayed at the Līvānu amatniecības centrs, sharing the space with its resident cats — a detail that quietly shaped the rhythm of everyday work. The local café Straume provided an equally memorable part of the experience through its hospitality.
The project was supported by the Valsts kultūrkapitāla fonds (State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia), target programme Latviešu vēsturisko zemju attīstības programma (Latvian Historical Lands Development Programme), and the Latgales kultūras programma 2025 (Latgale Culture Programme 2025), implemented by Latgales reģiona attīstības aģentūra (Latgale Region Development Agency).
