Giles Bettison

Glassblower

Thoughts converge into colour

Giles creates detailed glass sculptures that explore colour and pattern
He uses the Venetian tradition of murrini glassworking
It can take weeks of alternating between hot and cold states to produce his glass works

Adopting the complex process of murrini, Giles Bettison layers patterns and colours to create intricate works of glass art. Now based near Adelaide, Giles grew up surrounded by the dramatic Australian landscape and continues to be inspired by it. As a teenager and young adult, he played in bands, and chose to pursue glass blowing as a form of artistic expression in his early twenties. Giles first attended the nearby University of South Australia, before getting a spot at the prestigious Canberra School of Art. "My peers inspired me, along with teachers and mentors Klaus Moje and Stephen Procter," he shares. "In murrini, I discovered a medium and technique of vast graphic possibilities." Today, his weeks-long process of heating, forming and cooling glass is inspired by the grids, rhythms and textures of rural and urban landscapes, and the highly detailed patterns of lace and woven fabrics.

Interview

When did you realise you wanted to work with the murrini process?: In 1993, glass artists Dick Marquis, Nick Mount, Dante Marioni, Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott held demonstrations at the Jamfactory in Adelaide and Canberra School of Art. I went to watch and was blown away by what they were doing. At the same time, I found out I was offered a place at Canberra School of Art.
How do you make your works?: It is a complicated process! There are several cold processes and a number of hot processes. Working first with cold sheet glass to cut, shape and stack to make patterns that are then formed and stretched in a hot, molten state. After that, it goes back to cold and the glass is cut in cross section, before moving to a hot state again. It takes hours over several days or weeks.
What is it you like about the murrini technique?: I always look at patina and want to create that in objects I make. I want the choices and care to be apparent in what I make, like a patina of thought. The hand of the maker reveals the decisions and the thought processes. The graphic possibilities with the technique are endless, and I find it beautiful to work with saturated colours.
Where does your love of colour come from?: I take photographs and make sketches of the palettes that I see in the landscape. I have lived in a few different cities; the buildings, rhythms and life in the urban landscape are visually rich. I have always looked at textiles and weaving. One favourite inspiration is weaving from Ghana, which displays amazing skill with colour.

Giles Bettison is a master artisan: he began his career in 1996 and he started teaching in 1998