Vinculum | Glass sculpture

Vinculum was created using kiln-casting techniques. The work began with a plasticine prototype, which was used to produce a refractory mold. Solid and cylindrical glass elements were carefully placed inside the mold to generate the internal visual effects during melting. The piece was fired in the kiln for over two weeks, following a slow and controlled heating and cooling cycle to ensure structural stability and uniform annealing.

The internal shapes and effects inside Vinculum were designed through careful placement and shaping of glass elements before firing. As the glass melted in the kiln, these prearranged pieces interacted to form the sculpture’s internal structure, which emerges fully only after polishing.

Vinculum is crafted from Ohara eco-optical glass — a lead- and arsenic-free material chosen for its purity, clarity, and ability to transmit light without distortion. This glass allows the internal structure and optical effects to reveal themselves as light moves through the sculpture.

The creation of Vinculum spanned several months from concept to finish. The extended kiln cycle alone lasted over two weeks, and the subsequent cold-working — grinding and polishing — took several additional weeks to achieve optical clarity and reveal the internal forms.

Yes, Vinculum changes with light and perspective. As light moves across the surface, the internal forms shift and reveal different layers of depth.