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Mar 2 2009

Casted in sand

Art Glass by Karin Westman and Håkan Blomqvist. Photo: Bill Nilsson

Art glass casted in sand, with ethnical influences – that is the upcoming exhibition at the Embassy of Sweden when works of art duo Mr Håkan Blomqvist and Ms Karin Westman is shown for the first time in Japan.

Mr Håkan Blomqvist and Ms Karin Westman, living in the village of Högboda in the Värmland region of Sweden, have their own glass studio in their home. In 1999, after more than twenty years of art work in wood and textiles, they transited to work with glass. The interest for casting in glass ripened and they began to cast in sand, using a ”pâte de verre” surface. During their ten years long odyssey on the ocean of glass, they have had time to sail a number of archipelagos. The ethnic influences continually returns in different contexts. In 2003, Mr Håkan Blomqvist participated in a workshop at Pilchuck, in the United States, where he learned more about kilncasting in sand – the art work that developed in abstract as well as in fluid forms, have, since then, become the signature of the two artists. In 2002-2004, The Blomqvist & Westman duo have had several exhibitions in the the U.S.: New York, Chicago and Seattle. They have also had numerous exhibitions in Europe, including Sweden. Now their glass have come to Tokyo, where they exhibit at the Embassy of Sweden.

> Read more about Blomqvist & Westman

Glass Art Exhibition ”On Journey”

Date: 4-19 March, 2009
Venue: Embassy of Sweden, 1-3-10-100 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Open: Monday-Friday, 09.00-17.30, closed for lunch 12.30-13.30
Opening reception: Wednesday, 4 March, 19.00

Photo: Bill Nilsson

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