Tom Moore

Glassblower

The land where fantastical glass comes to life

Tom creates glass sculptures of animal characters born from his own drawings
He harnesses glass to interpret the evolving relationship between humans and nature
He is influenced by his research into historical and contemporary metamorphic imagery

Tom Moore is a glassblower who has a cast of quirky glass characters, each with their own personalities, based on his own design drawings. He carefully plans out his sculptures, inspired by nature, historical glass objects and other things he sees and feels. “I hope to capture the transformation of nature and human relationships – not in a way that objectifies nature, but in an attempt to subjectify glass,” Tom says. Sticking closely to his eccentric design drawings, he prepares the patterned and coloured glass rods for his characters in the glass furnaces at JamFactory in Adelaide. Tom makes his smaller elements at home, by reheating small pieces of coloured rod in a kiln, and shaping and joining these with a small, intense burner before completing the sculptures at the JamFactory.

Interview

What are your main sources of inspiration?: As a child, I was heavily influenced by illustrations in children’s books, nature documentaries, mythical creatures, cartoons, puppets, dolls and masks. More recently, I have conducted research into historical and contemporary metamorphic imagery. I continue to enjoy offbeat and surprising pop culture.
Do your studies inform your practice?: I first saw people blowing glass at an open day at Canberra Art School, and I immediately wanted to do it. I had previously done a lot of painting, drawing and ceramics, and was very excited by the processes and possibilities of hot glass.
How does your making process unfold?: I usually work with up to four assistants depending on the size and complexity of the design I am creating. I enjoy working in teams and within a community that has shared facilities. Glass is mysterious – I am still learning, even though I have been working with glass since the 1990s.
What is your favourite piece to create?: I have made several iterations of a sculpture depicting a kookaburra bird riding on a car. The scale is skewed so that the bird is almost as big as the car. The car usually has a plant growing out of the bonnet. I want it to be perceived as a visual representation of the triumph of nature over industry.

Tom Moore is a master artisan: he began his career in 1991 and he started teaching in 1999