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"Working in glass by its nature is an incredible blend of both science and aesthetics. With glass, you can have this beautiful vision in your mind of what you want to create but the physical properties of glass as you heat it to temperatures of over 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, will determine whether it is possible or not." Tell us about yourself and background. I started my life as a dancer, embracing the joy of movement, flow and energy. Now as an artist I am always trying to translate that into glass. Early on, I was fascinated by the perceived dichotomy between sciences & maths and fine arts. My university studies began in fine arts but I was soon drawn to maths and sciences; attracted by the play of being able to give structure to the world of abstract concepts. While teaching statistics and calculus, I so enjoyed working with students, I found myself drawn to the study of psychology and counselling and spent the majority of my career working with children and families. I realized that as I navigated the years of my life, I kept coming back to art as a means of grounding me through the joys and challenges of life. Amazing teachers, family and friends along the way inspired me, starting me on this journey. I have worked in many mediums but it is glass that has riveted me. Tell us about your work. I do large and mid-sized abstract vessels and forms that echo the movement, power and colours of the seas and oceans. These pieces in shades of blues, greens and violets, reflect the energies of the waters and are made in multiple firings over many days. I also do rich, textural landscapes, trees and florals that can stand alone or be hung. These works are created with thousands of pieces of cut glass which are layered and fused repeatedly to get a textured and dimensional feel. Another area I enjoy is casting glass using a lost wax technique. This method allows me to create solid, three dimensional forms such as a majestic polar bear in crystal glass or a vibrant seahorse in ocean blues. What makes your work and approach unique? I think what makes my work different is that I am always trying to push boundaries and find new ways of creating what I see trees and florals that can stand alone or be hung. These works are created with thousands of pieces of cut glass which are layered and fused repeatedly to get a textured and dimensional feel. Another area I enjoy is casting glass using a lost wax technique. This method allows me to create solid, three dimensional forms such as a majestic polar bear in crystal glass or a vibrant seahorse in ocean blues. What makes your work and approach unique? I think what makes my work different is that I am always trying to push boundaries and find new ways of creating what I see around me. I am drawn to challenges and glass is an exciting and at times puzzling medium to work in. In many ways it mirrors nature; you can only do so much to it, before it simply shatters or collapses due to extremes of heat and pressure. As such, I find it is critical to work with the glass, respecting the limits of its structure but also pushing through perceived boundaries. I blend casting methods with traditional fusing and am constantly trying to invent new ways of seeing and creating. An example of this is a Seahorse Series. After watching these incredibly beautiful and threatened creatures in Hawaii, I wanted to capture their magical and enchanting qualities in glass. I found a way of blending glass with phosphorescent powder so it would be translucent in the daytime, reflective in the evening (or in low light) and phosphorescent (glow in the dark) at night. What draws you to glass? Working in glass by its nature is an incredible blend of both science and aesthetics. With glass, you can have this beautiful vision in your mind of what you want to create but the physical properties of glass as you heat it to temperatures of over 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, will determine whether it is possible or not. As the artist, you have to navigate between those structural limits and your creative desires. It’s very much like life… and for me personally, it allows both sides of my personality, creative and technical, some play time. Tell us about where you are based. I live and work on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a place teaming with natural beauty in its forests, ocean and mountains. Coming from an urban environment in Montreal, this region took my breath away. It also gave me the inspiration and resolve to create pieces that reflect the beauty and fragility of the area. What are your sources of inspiration? Most of my pieces evolve from my surroundings. I love putting texture and movement into my glass. The lush thickness of the leaves in the forest, the smooth and solid rocks, the depths and rush of the waters, are all rendered into the medium of glass. Vancouver Island has some of the most beautiful gardens anywhere, so florals are also one of my favourite themes. I want to invoke in the viewer, the feelings and sensations that I have from these landscapes and seascapes. The creatures that reside in these environments are also captivating for me…whether it is the power and resilience of a polar bear or the delicacy and grace of a seahorse, I want to translate those characteristics into glass. Website: doronilang.com Comments are closed.
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