“Glass is a seductively beautiful medium,” says Alison Kinnaird, one of the world’s foremost glass engravers, “It has a more versatile nature than any other material. It can be made to resemble stone, water or metal, ceramic, gems or textiles. It can be solid or liquid, transparent or obscure, smooth or textured, heavy or apparently weightless. But it is in partnership with light that glass comes alive. It is then glowing and brilliant, reflective and refractive.”It is in this vein that Kinnaird pursues her craft of glass engraving, a craft that will be on display at the Bluecoat Display Centre in Liverpool from August 29.Kinnaird likes to point out the technique of copper wheel engraving has remained basically unchanged for 2,000 years and produces an effect unlike any other technique. That is, one of precision and delicacy.Kinnaird’s main subject is the male and female body, with glass a worthy canvas for her technical forms. Her inspiration mainly comes from Scotland, though her references may be more metaphysical than literal. The air, the water, images of standing stones and boats all play to her imagination.She also works with techniques such as sandblasting with copper wheel engraving creates a painterly quality in her work. Using small elements combined to create a larger whole also creates an architectural scale in her work.Alison Kinnaird’s solo show is on view from August 29-October 3 at Bluecoat Display Centre in Liverpool.
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