Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott
Undercurrent II
Artist Statement:
The theme of tumultuous and cascading oceans that gave rise to the works in the ‘Surge’ and ‘Flood’ series in 2015 has stayed with us as a source of inspiration for the work in this exhibition ‘Undercurrent’. We struggle with being out of control in the face of changes in our lives and the lives of those close to us. The raging and restless ocean is a symbol that draws us in and gives expression to those feelings.
Embracing this familiar theme we have both tried to push ourselves into new territory with the glassblowing and the carving. For Ben it is the considered application of the cane, to represent the chaos of the storm. For Kathy, it is a transition from the stylized wave patterns with their Eastern reference to a more Western representational style carved onto the vessel working over and around the applied cane.
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About
Benjamin Edols & Kathy Elliott - view profile
As one of the most successful artistic partnerships in Australia, the glass of Ben Edols and Kathy Elliott has received international recognition. Over the last twenty years, they have collaborated on work that has inspired and tantalized many through its intense color, form & use of light.
Their work has been exhibited worldwide, and has been acquired for some of the leading international public and private art collections. Their work continues to be sourced for its technical & creative achievements.
In the last few years, their work has been inspired by botanical forms and patterns found in nature. The ability of glass to carry light can mimic the way in which light is diffused through the fluid filled cells of leaves and grass. They make objects they like to see in the world and are building a body of work that they hope will be coherent as it evolves over time.
Ben Edols in undoubtedly one of the best glass blowers worldwide, which in combination with the cutting skills of Kathy Elliott, makes them without a doubt, two of the most influential glass artists in Australia. Exhibiting in Europe, Asia, USA and Australia, their most recent works explore forms inspired by nature such as the ‘Bud’, ‘Leaf’, ‘Seed’ and ‘Skein’.