Verena Schatz (Østerrike) ble tilbudt et gjestekunstneropphold i forbindelse med utstillingen Young & Loving! I tiden før utstillingen fikk hun mulighet til å lage helt nye arbeider, og samtidig fortsette å utforske sin fascinasjon av transformative prosesser. Glassrør laget for hånd i verkstedet ble buntlet sammen, og varmet opp igjen i monsterovnen under kontrollerte former til ønsket resultat var nådd. Flere av skulpturene som ble til under Schatz sin gjestekunstnerperiode ble vist på ovennevnte gruppeutstilling, samt European Glass Context 2016 i Danmark.

Artist Statement

«The outstanding quality of the medium glass is characterized by its ambiguous nature. Being manifest and invisible at the same time make it a very appropriate medium to portray the intangible. Giving form to aspects of our lives that are undeniably part of our existence, but cannot be grasped or explained on a rational base.

Glass itself has become a source of Inspiration for me. I investigate its unique qualities through different stages and use what I learn to generate new ideas. I am fascinated with transformational processes – substantial, visual and notional. Despite the substantial transformations, I am interested in and occupied by the transitions that are not visible – transformations of an object or subject that purely happen on a notional base in the eye of the beholder.

My work relates to the human body in the broadest sense, the space that surrounds us, visual perception going through the body. Also mental conditions like tension and other sentiments. It is also the human body in the physical, at work, blowing glass. In my work glass is often used as a visual filter to achieve optical irritations – to alter the visual experience and subsequently question the way we perceive our reality. My comprehensive subject of perception is based on my interest in neurological processes and the phenomena connected to them – our consciousness, the banal events of daily life, human relations and our existence in general.

During the residency at S12 I will predominantly work with basic glass blowing techniques. The fabricated parts – Tubes and Canes will be the starting point and basic element for extensive experimentation to create work that deals with the concept of gravity, the freezing of time and movement.»