Amanda’s voluptuous collection started off from a series of plasticine models exploring variations of fluid forms from one of her architectural practice’s signature motifs, the bean shape. The way the designs were transformed into glass sculptures is by sculpting the molten glass into the desired form entirely by hand, and thus it was also decided to work with solid glass with no blowing involved at all. Technically these sculpted objects were the most physically demanding of all the pieces in this exhibition according to project manager Simon Moore, but he also adds they have proved to be ultimately incredibly rewarding.

After the first initial gather of glass many more layers are subsequently added on, some in different colours, to achieve the volume and weight needed for the sculpture. The finished piece weighs about 20 kg, and this phase of addition could take up to 45 minutes as the glass has to be pure and settled before the sculpting starts. When ready to sculpt simple wet wooden tools are used with force to flatten the glass, almost like kneading bread. This process is repeated in different ways and excess glass cut away while still hot. Sculpting continues with the use of wet newspaper and cork pads. Working with these pieces is very physically demanding due to their sheer weight and the shape not being concentric on the blowing iron, on average they require the full attention of 4 Maestros simultaneously for about 1.5 hours.

Amanda supervised the shape and directed the maestros until the object was completed and then cooled down in the Lehr for about 24 hours. Following cooling one has to polish away any imperfections on the glass surface caused while working on them. Colours represent depth and explore the amazing Venetian mastery of colour alchemy