Feedback, questions, commission enquiry helene.uffren@network.rca.ac.uk

 

I am a glass and mixed media artist who graduated from the prestigious Royal College of Art in 2009.

My interest in glass lies in its optical qualities, its transparency and also in its potential to be highly textured. I am driven by technique and concept. I want to address pre-conceived ideas and challenge perceptions about glass.

 My work combines blown glass, cast metal, found objects and photography to create intriguing mirrors and objects of curiosity. These deceiving devices act as portals and transport the viewer into another space and into their own imagination. They are visual experiences, not just objects to look at but objects to look through.

My recurring themes deal with vision, reality and illusion. My urban environment inspires me: The London Underground, security mirrors, CCTV cameras; and as a whole our visual culture and technology i.e. virtual reality.

Working with the concept of vision has naturally led me to explore the themes of voyeurism and the male gaze. Works such as "Hard Look", "Underground" and "Matrix Mirror" (in the gallery section) were inspired by the painting "L'origine du monde" by Gustave Courbert.

"...Due to the prevailing rule...of making everything visible, the present day images have become substantially pornographic" Jean Baudrillard.

 The portfolio section shows selected past works that illustrate the scope of my creativity and search for meaning through glass. I thrive on the versatility of the material and the technical challenges it offers.

 I enjoy the challenge of working with space and responding to architecture. I have recently been involved in site-specific projects and I am excited at the prospect of future ones.

Welcome to my Website.