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ARTIST STATEMENT
As a child I was always drawing, and from the age of ten onwards, I was really drawn to watercolour. Looking back, I think watercolour has something innate that glass also has: a kind of transparency, immediacy and spontaneity. These same characteristics I found in glassblowing at a later age. Hot glass for me seems to be alive, the way that it flows and moves and radiates light, it totally fascinates me. I take photographs of things that interest me, sometimes not knowing why, and it may take five or ten years before a piece develops from a series of photographs or sketches or ideas that I have had. The piece needs to have a movement in it. It needs to be alive; it needs to convey a message or a thought or feeling to another person. And glass to me is the perfect material to express movement. It is like wind; you don’t see wind, but you see trees moving, waves flowing. Everything is moving, nothing is static. And that is, for me, the essence of life. Life doesn’t stand still; it is always moving. I find that really exciting. |
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ABOUT
Bibi Smit is a Dutch artist. Her work explores the patterns, rhythms and colours of movement in nature. Her creative process is focused on the relationship between natural phenomena and the fluidity of hot glass, original experimentation, and craftsmanship. By being able to control all processes, both in the hotshop and coldshop, her work shows an acute attention to detail and technique. She grew up in The Netherlands before attending West Surry College of Art and Design in Farnham, UK (BA 1988), where she was first introduced to glassblowing. Completely fascinated by this material and technique, she went on to learn more from Willem Heesen (Holland), David Kaplan (Scotland) and Boyd Sugiki (Pilchuck, USA). Smit began exhibiting her work from 1990 and established her own studio in 1991. Her work can be found in galleries throughout Europe and het artwork is held in numerous collections and museums. She is an active member of the Glass Art Society (USA). In 2019, the documentary Moving Glass was selected for the North Lands Creative Film Festival. The Glassmaker episode from a World of Calm Series streaming at HBO Max, is a poetic narrative of her work and the power of nature. To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Mauritshuis Museum, The Hague, she was commissioned to make an artwork. She designed and made a 6 meter high artwork, which was revealed in 2023 and which is on permanent display in the museum. The mini documentary Whirl of Life explores the creative processes behind this milestone artwork. Bibi Smit lives and works in the Netherlands. SELECTED SOLO/DUO EXHIBITIONS 2023 Fragile, Galerie A-Quadraat, NL 2022 Venice Glass Week, IT 2016-2022 Salone del Mobile, Milano, Palazzo Francesco Turati, Italy 2018 “Glas en Keramiekbeurs” Leerdam, NL, “Copier Unveiled” 2011-18 “Meesterlijk”, Amsterdam, NL 2010 “Future Memories”, Galerie Broft, Leerdam, NL 2006 “Fragile Connections”, (with Elizabeth Swinburne), Gallery Leon Salet, Maastricht, NL 2001 Glass Gallery Leerdam, Leerdam (with Floris Meydam), NL SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2023 Galerie Handwerk, Munich, DE 2023 Galerie Wilms, Venlo, NL 2023 MPV Gallery, Oisterwijk, and Art The Hague, NL 2022 Coburg Prize Exhibition for Contemporary Glass, Coburg, DE 2022 Galerie Wilms, Venlo, and PAN Amsterdam, NL 2022 Gallery Ten, Edinburgh, UK 2022 MPV Gallery, Oisterwijk, NL 2022 Venice Glass Week, Venice, IT 2022 Art[s] Gallery, Noordwijk, NL 2021 National Glass Prize Exhibition, Sunderland, UK 2021 Connections, Glass Art Society, Virtual 2021, USA 2021 Kunstexpositie, De Kliuw Galerie, Heeze, NL 2020 PAN Amsterdam, Galerie Wilms, NL 2019 Gallery Bonnard, NL 2018-2019 Masterly The Hague, NL 2018 “TRANS-FORM”, London Design Festival, Mint, London, UK 2015-2016 “Royal Showpieces”, Paleis Het Loo, Apeldoorn, NL 2016 “11th Biennial International Glass Art”, Roermond, NL 2016 “A Vases is a Vase is a Vase”, AD Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium 2015 Maison & Objet, Paris, France 2014 “10th Biennial International Glass Art”, Roermond, NL 2014 “Glass of the Netherlands”, Glass Museum Immenhausen, Germany 2013 Palace Oranienbaum, Germany 2012 Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, NL 2008 “Reflections: A Decade of North Lands Creative Glass”, Royal Museum/Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK 2007 “Moderne Hollandsk Glas”, Lærken Galeria og Museum for Moderne Kunst, Nykøbing Falster, Denmark 2007 “Masters and Techniques”, Het Glazen Huis, Lommel, Belgium 2006 “De Nieuwe Garde en Jonge Gasten”, manifestation “GLAS” 2006 Museum Jan van der Togt, Amstelveen, NL 2006 Coda Museum, Apeldoorn, NL 2004 “Het Meervoud van Glas”, National Glassmuseum Leerdam, NL 2004 “Dutch Glass Art at Nordstan”, Götenburg, Sweden 2004 Holland Art Fair, (showing at stand of Gallery Artra), The Hague, NL 2002 “Contemporary Art in Glass”, exh. by Glassmovement.nl in Gemeente Archief Amsterdam, NL 2001 “Glass Connections”, National Glass Centre, Sunderland, UK 1998 “Glass UK, British Contemporary Glass”, National Glass Centre, Sunderland and then touring to the City Art Gallery, Edinburgh UK 1997 Expo Glass Art Society International, Tucson, Arizona, USA 1996 “Venezia Aperto Vetro”, Museo Correr, Venice, Italy 1996 “British Studio Glass”, Touring Exhibition to Bratislava and Prague (Slovak and Czech Republic) and London, UK 1994 “British Artists in Glass”, Guinness Gallery, Dublin, Ireland 1992 Transparence Gallery, Brussels, Belgium PUBLIC and PRIVATE COLLECTIONS National Museums of Scotland, Great Britain Nationaal Glasmuseum Leerdam, NL Museum Jan (formally named Museum Jan van der Togt), Amstelveen, NL NN Group Art Collection, The Netherlands L.R. Crystal, Glassmuseum, Lednické Rovne, Slovak Republic Dan Klein & Alan J. Poole (Private Collection of Glass) Collection North Lands Creative Glass, Lybster, Scotland Museum für Glaskunst, Lauscha, Germany Glasmuseum Alter Hof Herding, Ernsting-Stiftung, Coesfeld, Germany EDUCATION | WORK EXPERIENCE 1988-1989 Glass Assistant at Lindean Mill Glass, Galashiels, Scotland 1987 Trainee with Willem Heesen, Leerdam, The Netherlands 1985-1988 West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham, UK, B.A. Honours 3-D Design, Glass 1984-1985 West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham, UK, Foundation Course. TEACHING EXPERIENCE 2015 Guest teacher at the "Gooische Kinder Kunst Academie, Hilversum, NL 2003 Guest Lecturer at the University of Leiden (Faculty of Creative & Performing Arts and the College of Visual Arts, Dance & Music, The Hague) 2002 Guest Lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art and University of Sunderland, UK 1999 Lecturer 10-day "2nd International Glass Workshop for Women" at Nuutajärvi, (Häme Polytechnic, Wetterhoff School of Crafts and Design), Finland 1998-2006 Co-ordinator Hot Glass workshop programme, head lecturer glassblowing workshops at Van Tetterode Hot Glass Studio, Amsterdam, NL 1997-1998 Supporting the establishment of Van Tetterode Hot Glass Studio, Amsterdam, in charge of Hot Glass workshop programme development. 1996 Guest Lecturer at Denmark Design School, Copenhagen, Denmark 1995-1997 Part-time lecturer and head of the "Hot Glass"-department at the B.A. Honours 3-Dimensional Design (Glass, Architectural Glass, Ceramics) Programme at the University of Sunderland, England, UK 1991-1995 Visiting Lecturer at the Glass Department, Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland 1990 Conducted two 5-day workshops at the Art Glass Centre, Schalkwijk, NL OTHER ACTIVITIES include: 2006-2012 Committee member of the Society of Friends of Modern Glass, NL. 2004 Invited to participate in the 7th International Glass Symposium Lauscha, Germany. Attended workshop with Boyd Sugiki at Pilchuck Glass School, Seattle, USA . 2003 Artist in Residency (2-month period) at North Lands Creative Glass, Lybster, Scotland. 1997 Attended "Inspirational Workshop" at North Lands Creative Glass, Lybster, Scotland. SELECTED COMMISSIONS since 1996 2022/3 Commission by Friends of the Mauritshuis Museum to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the museum, The Hague, NL 2018 "Copier Unveiled", design commission Royal Leerdam Crystal, NL 2011 Design and manufacture of 7 awards for Dubo Limburg, Belgium 2007 Design of "Beursobject", (limited edition of 250, manufactured at Novy Bor, Tsjech Rep), Glaskunstbeurs, Leerdam, NL Design of 8 "Unica" for "Africa aan de Linge", Royal Leerdam Crystal, NL 2002 "Ledenobject", (limited edition of 119), Society of Friends of Modern Glass, NL 1999 Design "Annual Object, Institution Cristal Supérieur 1999", Royal Leerdam Cristal, NL 1996 Four vases for Historic Scotland, situated in Stirling Castle Chapel, Scotland LITERATURE 2023 The DNA of the Autumn, NeuesGlas/NewGlass Magazine, issue 4, pages 8-13 2021 BIBI SMIT 30 jaar 'in het glas', Vereniging Vrienden van Modern Glas, issue 2 2020 Article in magazine "Herenhuis", nr 77 (may/june 2020), page 48-51 2013 "Dit is Meesterlijk - historisch vakwerk als inspiratie voor hedendaagse vormgevers" , NL Glasrijk Tubbergen, International Glass Art Event, NL 2012 "Dutch Design", Huis van Oranje, Paleis Oranienbaum 2010 Newspaper "Gooi- en Eemlander", lifestyle magazine, autumn issue 2006 Catalogue: "Reflections: A Decade of North Lands Creative Glass", Scotland Catalogue: "The Glass Age: New Guard & Young Fellows", NL 2005 "Fjoezzz", kwartaalblad van de Vereniging Vrienden van Modern Glas, issue 4, p14&15 2001 "Sunderland Glass Connections", catalogue, University of Sunderland, England 2000 "This Side Up!", issue 10, summer 2000, p8&9 1999 "This Side Up!", issue 7, autumn 1999, p27 1998 Glasbulletin Vereniging Vrienden van Modern Glas 12th year, issue 4, p11-13, NL 1996 Venezia Aperto Vetro (International New Glass), EBS, San Giovanni Lupatoto, Verona, Italy 1993 Lexicon Moderne Nederlandse Glaskunst 1900-1992, Antiek Lochum b.v., Lochum, NL |