Valentin Rizzo - Instant suspendu

In my work, I seek to tap into the fabulous potential of glass, its plurality. Glass has many facets that are at once opposite and inseparable. Exploiting these facets is like playing with balance in creation. For me, it’s an essential principle that governs much more than physical laws. Being a glassblower is about finding the perfect rhythm, between anticipation and spontaneity, it’s about defying gravity. Isn’t that the most beautiful balance?

In my series of pieces “Suspended Moment,” I seek to play with balance. These are true equilibria; the pieces are worked separately and assembled according to their natural point of balance. In order to secure the display of the works, I then apply a UV collage between the two glass pieces. I am fascinated by the visual effects that can be created by playing with transparency and opacity, which allows for the development of a very elegant universe.

This material is naturally brilliant and “luminous,” but it is possible to treat the surface to satin it, to make it matte. This texture play yields very interesting effects; I find it particularly suited to my work with solid glass. Solid glass has a very particular vibration between lightness and solidity, one can both believe it is full or empty, and that confuses the senses. Finding the right balance between these different aspects is very important to me. I aim to create a piece that is both complex and visually simple, while revealing a very vast universe to discover in terms of details.

To work with solid glass, we proceed by adding layers of glass and build the interior décor outward. This enables multiple levels of decoration and creates very strong contrasts. Thanks to precise sizing, I can then create windows of transparency and visual imbalances, allowing me to evoke the emotions and sensations of the viewer.