THE REVERIES OF NATURE: UNIQUE CREATIONS IN VENETIAN GLASS BY MICHELA CATTAI

Tradition and innovation in Venetian glassblowing converge to tell a story of metamorphosis and experimentation in designing new forms and merging materials. Presented by KALPA, this curated selection of refined glass sculptures by Milanese artist and designer Michela Cattai embodies her audacious spirit and visionary research in this field. From liquid to solid, the millennial precious material of glass crystallises a fleeting moment and captures light, while embracing strength and fragility, transience and endurance. 

Drawing inspiration from natural biodiversity, the collections Linfa and Botanica Vitrea represent two souls of a singular creative vision. The verticality of the first collection, born by the union of Venetian glass and bronze, accentuates the rounded, organic forms of the second, crafted entirely in warm, amber-hued glass. While Linfa makes a clear reference to the structure of a tree, specifically to the protective bark, safeguarding the inner sap, the element of water blossoms in all its facets within Botanica Vitrea.

"There is a magical moment when we can give shape to our thoughts, repeat the history of millennia with a gesture and direct the act to create a form of luminous plasticity."

The underwater symphony of the Venetian lagoon, with its multitude of flora and motions, is both the nucleus and the main source of inspiration for Botanica Vitrea. While synthesising marine motifs and floral symbolism, the forms of these sculptures evoke ancient vessels and inspire a profound sense of serenity. 

Each series included in the collection, namely Corolla, Bocciolo, Botanica Adriatica, and Libellula, serves as a tribute to Nature’s intricate and unpredictable rhythms, resembling a dreamy water herbarium. Each piece is unrepeatable and embodies an empathic and silent complicity between the artist’s vision and the craftsman's hand, reflecting the perfect fusion of the savoir-faire of the traditional hand-blown glass technique from the island of Murano and contemporary research. 

The Linfa collection, with its sinuous and uncanny forms, stands for a noble and intellectual recycling act, showing an innovative fusion of the two apparently distant materials of glass and bronze. Exhibited in major institutions worldwide, these vases feature a dichotomy within themselves, creating a chromatic contrast between transparent and opaque surfaces.

The idea for this collection emerged during a visit to the historic Battaglia Fonderia Artistica in Milan, an epitomy of excellence and tradition in sculpture. There, the artist recognised the potential of valuable, historically significant bronze remains, and was inspired to create new artistic objects. By combining bronze and glass, she brought to life Linfa, a series of sculptures that embodies past stories and a new, distinctive identity.

"Nature is a great source of inspiration to me. I am always fascinated by the history of a place and how the natural environment shapes its social culture."

This selection of sculptures, represented by KALPA, casts new light on contemporary glass art. Through the creation of minimal and organic forms, the artist showcases her ability to evoke deep emotions, where colour thrives in its refined shades.

Cattai reaffirms her mastery in interpreting and shaping the very essence of glass and its natural colours, carefully sourced from a variety of sands. She invites viewers into a landscape of reflections and emotional impressions, echoing the vivid imagination within her creative vision.

Explore further Michela Cattai's corpus of work by watching the following two poetic videos, which beautifully unveil the birthing of these exquisite sculptures:

Click on the image below to view the short documentary revealing the origin of the Botanica Vitrea collection in glass: 

Click on the image below to view the short film, entitled "Incontri Metropolitani", dedicated to the Linfa collection in glass and recycled bronze:

C R E D I T S :

Video "Botanica Vitrea": Courtesy of the Artist

Video "Incontri Metropolitani": directed by Francesco La Porta, photography Johannes Menghi, editing Tommaso Bagnati, music Davide Cairo, colour correction Fulvio Lacitignola, production ShamelessEye

Quotes: Michela Cattai

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