Enclosed Spaces

Glass Art - Group exhibition

The glass art exhibition Enclosed Spaces showcases the work of five outstanding artists who express their artistic narratives through the medium of glass, employing unique techniques they have developed themselves. They explore the possibilities of forms enclosed within glass and of glass that encloses forms, creating dynamic contrasts between inner and outer, positive and negative spaces. Through forms, inclusions, and melted glass that encircles and brings them to life, these works reveal both hidden and vivid spaces when illuminated.

The artists articulate their thoughts through a distinctive language, working within both abstract and figurative realms, each guided by their own conceptual and artistic attitudes, and addressing specific themes.

Glass art occupies a very particular place within the arts, spanning the spectrum between industrial and fine arts. It beautifies when needed but is also unfiltered and candid, revealing and distorting, uncovering and concealing dimensions. Glass can sparkle and dazzle, or it can absorb light within. It floats lightly yet remains raw and unyielding, with contours that can be soft or sharp, giving artists nearly endless possibilities for expression.

Artists who work with glass are also working with form, space, light, shadow, and reflection, navigating reality and distortion in the language of this material. In its molten state, glass encloses space, takes shape, fills, and acquires textures; once solidified, it preserves these impressions. It speaks of existence both abstractly and narratively. The spaces of glass are metaphysical, reflecting and revealing not only reality but also its illusion, mirroring an optical reality that becomes a personal reality for the viewer. Light creates its hidden dimensions.

For a glass artist, the relationship with the material is a deeply personal creative journey. They must understand the language of glass, knowing every element of its “alphabet.” Mastery of the material is essential to articulate this unique form of expression. This process is not merely the use of the material but a dialogue with it—a constant exploration driven by curiosity, a quest to formulate and present personal narratives.

The creators featured in Enclosed Spaces are masters of both material and artistic expression. The exhibition showcases the latest works of these artists:

Kristóf Bihari traps air bubbles to draw spatial constructions that at times evoke sacred patterns or cosmic floating structures. Péter Borkovics uses golden veils to create and unveil mesmerizing and secret spaces, while Márta Edőcs captures attention with her delicate, layered, translucent inner spaces and colorful, cell-like compositions. István Czebe’s pieces use line to enter space, manifesting in abstract figurative forms rich with lively details, reminiscent of graffiti. Balázs Sipos’s figurative glass sculptures confront us with playful sarcasm, while his colorful panels, paying homage to Johannes Itten, exhibit masterful use of color in glass.

The exhibition offers a broad view of contemporary glass art perspectives and thoughts. Accompanying the artworks are prints that uncover the unique details of this art form, and additional programs that provide insights into the craft's secrets.

Exhibiting artists: Kristóf BIHARI, Péter BORKOVICS, István CZEBE, Márta EDŐCS, Balázs SIPOS

The "Enclosed Spaces Group Exhibition of Glass Art at the Faur Zsófi Gallery" has been made possible with the support of the Hungarian Academy of Arts in 2024.