lágrima collection
teardrop from the fire
In this burning hell, tireless I create
fire surrounds me but my breath brings shape
a teardrop is born from the lifeless pit
oh joy! I witness beauty willing to exist
spirit of its creator
From the burning stoves a suffocating heat radiates. Undeterred, the artisan pushes on and tears of sweat cover his face. With composed breath and steady hands, he blows into the pipe without a pause but the effort doesn’t go unnoticed. As if absorbing his essence, the glass slowly gains the shape of a teardrop.
Pure and clear glass emerges from the anvil untouched by the chaos around it, contrasting with the image itself reflects: shattered pieces, licking flames and a weary face. The artisan transcends himself once more for his tears of sweat and effort are now tears of joy. All sublimated into a lágrima.
a glass smith’s pilgrimage
these tears of glass are my prized jewels
my fountain of youth, no other treasure prize means more
like a river mouth my life it renewals
and as gentle tide comes, I may rest by the shore.
His story is now immortalised in glass, encapsulated into a teardrop. Like the creator’s spiritual transformation so do his art pieces journey with him. From the moment it is conceived until it is washed away by the waves, every drop of water goes through its own path. Such trajectory will change its shape, its size and even its state but its essence remains true to its master.
It all starts in the source where water magically appears from the ground, a spring. This is what makes it all possible and everything flows from this point in space hence the name fonte. It’s the first piece that was conceived and made a reality.
At this junction, when inspiration is abundant, the artist has to make choices and not lose his path. Through lost rivers and ephemeral streams, water eventually finds his way into its destination, into the sea-gate. foz celebrates the confluence between river and sea, beginning and end.
And here, where the vastness of the ocean is inevitable, there’s a feeling of peace for the purpose has been fulfilled. The tear becomes one with the waves in the same manner the creator becomes one with his creation. It all culminates at the coming of the tide where one is prepared to be swallowed by the sea, and as such no other name other than maré could be given to our final piece.
