Layered Glass Sculptures

A sculpture made of glass that appears as if flowing effortlessly like water, exuding a dancing rhythm – such is the beauty created by Japanese artist Niyoko Ikuta.

Courtesy of Niyoko Ikuta

Breaking boundaries of imagination, in these sculptures the artist gives form to feelings of “gentleness and harshness, fear, limitless expansion experienced through contact with nature, images from music, ethnic conflict, the heart affected by joy and anger, and prayer.” The one thing that makes this art form so engaging and accessible is that these are not arbitrary forms created for aesthetic appeal. Rather, they stimulate and bring forth these feelings in the viewer, breathing life into their surroundings.

Courtesy of Niyoko Ikuta

The artist started making these sculptures in 1980 as she was fascinated by and explored the capacity of light to reflect and refract while passing through broken sections of plate glass. Thus she laminated together sheets of glass, exposing their cross sections to create these sculptures.

Characterised by sharp lines and edges, the glass exhibits strength; the curves are graceful and their movement is liberating- thus the glass exhibits great potential. The sculptures exemplify and inspire unbound creativity.