Jeffrey Sarmiento

Glass sculptor

©Bullseye Glass

©Colin Davison

©Francis Kenna

©David Williams

When maker and material agree

Jeffrey is a master craftsman, artist and lecturer in glass
He mixes old and new techniques to produce work of thematic exploration
His work invites viewers to re-examine their origins

Jeffrey Sarmiento is a Filipino-American glass artist. He was born in Chicago, studied glass design in Rhode Island and Denmark, acquired a PhD in the UK, and is now a Senior Lecturer at The Australian National University School of Art and Design. Combining deep material knowledge, traditional glassblowing training, and state-of-the-art glass cutting and printing techniques, Jeffrey explores cultural identity, belonging, transience and time by experimenting with contours and transparency. In his sculptures, he constructs alternative narratives through layering, obscuring or distorting of glass. "Historically, glass has migrated geographically and culturally as a material, adapting and transforming stylistically and technologically," says Jeffrey, "making it the perfect material for my exploration of perspective and themes."

Interview

©Colin Davison

What makes glass suitable for your exploration of cultural identity and origin?: I use glass both as a surface for image-making and as a literal and metaphorical lens through which to view culture. It allows me to focus on, or indeed obscure, specific details of a place, visualise complex narratives, and fuse disparate fragments into cohesive objects.
Do you use cutting-edge computing technology in your work?: I have a glassblowing background but continuously adapt to the available techniques. A waterjet cutter is one of my key tools, driven by CAD/CAM applications. This helps me to generate precise and otherwise unmakeable contours and forms in glass. I am also now experimenting with 3D printing in glass.
How much of your approach is intuitive, and how much is well-planned?: As a glassmaker making unique sculptural objects and installations, I work to express concepts visually. This involves experimenting, drawing, drafting, and modelling before I commit the material to final works. The results are usually very close to what is rendered in the plans.
Where do you look for inspiration the most: to the past, the present or the future?: I am interested in how the past makes the present. As a Filipino-American artist who has lived and worked in many countries, I can reflect on my peripatetic career involving a cycle of landing, settling, and leaving. Cultural influences weave in and out of my works – languages, customs, and relationships are lost, and others are found.

Jeffrey Sarmiento is a master artisan: he began his career in 2000 and he started teaching in 2005