CYBELE VESSEL
Half white half transparent hand-blown glass infused with sand
Artist Statement
Cybele, an Anatolian mother goddess, possibly traces her roots back to the earliest Neolithic period at Çatalhöyük, where archeological findings include statues of voluptuous women. Recognised as the creator of nature, this cultural influence resonates with my roots as my ancestors hail from Kayseri, a modern city near Çatalhöyük. Notably, some of the earliest obsidian glass objects were discovered at this historical site.
Having grown up in Istanbul, I was immersed in its traditional craftsmanship. The Beykoz Glassware, a lattimi glass adapted by the Ottomans in the 18th Century, captured my interest. An authentic Beykozware can be identified by holding it up to a light source and observing red tints in milky white glass, attributed to the sand in its composition. In my current artistic endeavours, I blend glass with sands from diverse origins. During my trip to Iceland, I stumbled upon the revelation that black sand contains obsidian, a material I had previously utilised in crafting glass vessels long before my discovery of Çatalhöyük. The serendipitous overlap of materials with intangible cultural heritage delighted me.
The handmade vessel employs the incalmo technique, fusing two separate glass pieces in the middle. The lower half is opaque white, reminiscent of Beykozware, while the upper half features glass infused with Rejnisfjara sand containing obsidian. This creation forms a complete circle, intertwining cultural heritage, technical expertise, and psychogeography.
Artwork details
ø 20 x 30h cm
Hand-blown glass with infused with smoky gray colour and sand from Snæfellsnes
Single edition sculpture
