Ji Huang

Glass is my chosen material. I am fascinated and inspired by both the long history of glass making, and the daily experience of working with glass. I am determined to not only master techniques, but also to invent something new, incorporating influences from my own culture. 

I am intrigued by a style of lacquer decoration called 'Xi Pi'. Fascinated by the idea of generations of craftspeople accumulating technical knowhow, and experience in different materials, my current work focusses on developing a glass making process inspired by Xi Pi lacquer; to achieve a unique surface quality in glass. 

The glass making process I developed is extremely labour intensive. I create each original form from wax, and texture it by hand. Using the lost wax process, I make a refractory mould. A prepared layered colour cup is blown into the pre-heated mould by an experienced glassblower. After a 48-hour cooling cycle, I remove the glass from the mould and finish the form, using cold working processes. Each object takes a minimum of two weeks to complete.