Glass Now - African Perspectives 2025 Exhibition

Conceptual Statement

The golden ratio, often denoted by the Greek letter phi ф has fascinated artists, designers, and architects for centuries. It is derived from the Fibonacci sequence, which was discovered by the mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci in the 13th century. This ratio is an irrational number approximately equal to 1.6180339887. Artists throughout history from ancient Greece up until now incorporates this ratio, and it is believed to create compositions that are visually balanced, aesthetically pleasing and harmonious. It is often referred to as the divine proportion.

My inspiration for the coloured glass design was derived from a suncatcher. The art of creating suncatchers dates back centuries ago when different cultures and civilizations used glass or crystals to embellish their windows or entryways to diffuse the ethereal beauty of light. As the sun’s rays pass through the intricate patterns and vibrant colours of the suncatcher, they are refracted and dispersed, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and colour that captivates your visual experience.

Light serves as a pivotal element in my artworks, acting as a golden thread that weaves through my creations. The unique properties of glass—its ability to capture, reflect, and refract light—are central to my practice. The phenomenon of refraction, which bends light rays as they pass from one medium to another, mirrors my intent to alter perceptions. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so they say…beauty to me is light.

Beauty is in the eye of phi.