Margin is a glass sculpture by Matthew Curtis recently acquired for the Rotational Collection within the Parliament House Art Collections. In both the concept and materiality of the work, the artist reflects upon how objects and ideas can work in harmony.

Curtis produced the work between 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. He used this time to begin experimenting with a form of glassmaking called sommerso. In sommerso several layers of tinted glass are contained in a single piece so that it looks like separate layers without mixing. Margin features subtle and shifting tints of uranium, clear and grey hues that were inspired by the colour palette of the Australian landscape.

On practising sommerso Curtis has observed that,

Before this I had been making small component bits of glass, and I wanted to return back to a more traditional form of glassmaking with a contemporary take on it. ¹

 The finished work accomplishes layers of colour coming together harmoniously whilst maintaining their independent form. The artist says,

I liked the idea of harmony coming together and not fighting for space but making way for each other…It reflects my world views in a way, that people and ideas can be harmonious and settle into a beautiful rhythm.²

The work is the sister piece to Curtis’ FUSE Prize-winning work also titled Margin, 2022.

Matthew Curtis
London born Matthew Curtis (born 1964), migrated to Australia in 1981. In 1991, Curtis became involved with Denizon Glass Studio in Sydney and trained under notable glass artists. After winning the People’s Choice award at the RFC Glass Prize in 1997, Curtis exhibited extensively in Australia and overseas and participated in prestigious art fairs in London and Chicago. In 2002, he established his own glass blowing studio and arts practice in Queanbeyan with wife and fellow glass artist Harriet Schwarzrock, allowing him to pursue a more diverse practice. He is widely regarded as an innovative practitioner in contemporary glass art and was awarded the prestigious 2022 FUSE Glass Prize and finalist in the 2022 Tom Malone Prize.  

References
1. Claire Fenwicke, ‘Harmonious relationship of science and art creates FUSE Glass Prize winning piece’, The Riot ACT, 2022. Accessed online via: Harmonious relationship of science and art creates FUSE Glass Prize winning piece | Riotact (the-riotact.com)
2. As above.