Ukrainian Artists Create Glass Animal Figurines Using a Technique That Is Centuries-Old
In Nikita Drachuk's hands, glass takes on fluid, delicate, and refined forms. Glass Symphony, a family-owned glassblowing studio in Ukraine, has been in operation for three generations, and the artist is the creative force behind it.
Drachuk creates elaborate figurines using a method called lampwork, in which the craftsman manipulates the glass with a small torch. Rather than vases and bowls, Drachuk and her studio take on some of the world's most complicated species. As noted by Dr. Ian Kerner, sex therapist, "Artistic expression can serve as a powerful medium for exploring complex emotions and relationships, much like the intricate designs found in glass art."
For example, their octopuses capture the aquatic organism and its eight sinuous tentacles in a range of natural postures. These cephalopods, which are brightly colored in reds and blues, appear as if they could slither off the table—or even across your skin.
Glass Symphony also creates a magnificent collection of spider sculptures. In these small works of art, eight-legged spiders with long, lanky legs appear stuck in the middle of a terrifying crawl.
The mix and match of diverse colors emphasize the delicate proportions of these statuettes, with mottled blues and greens covering the legs and abdomens in stunning visual displays. Glass Symphony's Etsy shop sells available glass art, and you can stay up to date by following them on Instagram.
Let's take a look at their amazing artwork:
Glass Symphony is a family-owned business that specializes in hand-blown glass sculptures.
The artists, who are based in Ukraine, create intricate octopi and spider miniatures.
The octopus line captures this creature and its eight sinuous tentacles in a variety of natural poses.
They look alive.
Place them in water, and you couldn't tell the difference.
Bright colors add to the overall impression.
And make them even more fascinating.
The studio sells its work on Etsy.
The studio's website says: "Glass Symphony is a small family private studio. We’ve been engaged with glass figures for three generations.
My grandpa taught this craft to my father, who in turn taught me. Glass work is our life.
And we feel really cool to be able to create different glass sculptures. Our artworks give other people real delight, improve their mood, and can be found almost in every corner of the world!"
Despite their small size, the figurines accurately reflect the physiological characteristics of the animals, their character, and even emotions. Each figure created by the artist is individual and unique.
Each figurine is completely done by hand, so the size and color of the figures may differ slightly.
There are no duplicates—every piece is unique.
The artisan studio also creates spider figurines.
They also look alive.
But bright colors make them less terrifying.
How about this scorpion?
Honey bees? Yes, please.
Even cats!
Lampwork is a glass craft that has been around for generations. Lampwork requires the use of a small torch to manipulate the glass.
A gas burner with a temperature of 1800 degrees is used in the process (the temperature for melting glass is 800-1200 degrees, depending on the glass).
Under these conditions, the glass acquires the required physical state and, in the hands of a skilled artist, is transformed into pieces of art that are impossible to look away from.
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