Bibi Smit, Whirl of Life, blown glass, steel, LED light. H 600, W 170, D 150, 2022, Mauritshuis Museum | Photography by Annemarie Sabelis.
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WERVELING / WHIRL OF LIFE
Through the allusion of blossoms and leaves, the artwork radiates the energy of nature’s circularity and the transience of time. The work connects the viewer to the grounding feeling of the seasons returning and the empowering quality of nature. Everything always comes back and such is the beauty of life’s balance: as the leaves fall to the ground and wither, they become part of the soil again. In nature, wilting is considered to be a sign of the plants’ circle of life towards the end. Here it is transformed into the central element and acquires a newfound beauty in all its possibilities. The petals are just past their prime, becoming translucent, and as they fall off and curl up, they become alluring. Drawing inspiration from the 17th century flower paintings, the work contains humorous elements such as hidden creatures. Whirl of Life contains two organic spirals that reach towards each other at the center of the sculpture. The upper spiral moves from outwards to inwards, while the lower follows the opposite direction. Suspended from the ceiling on eight points, the work appears floating in space, requiring the audience to look up and move around. Seen from the floors above, the visitor looks closely into the sculpture. The artwork embodies the soft, strong and fluid characteristic of hot glass. Each glass element is a combination of color hues ranging from light oranges to dark purples and is secured by a metal thread, which hangs out from the steel spiral. The LED light embedded in both frames creates a veil of luminosity that magnifies the semi-transparent colorful shapes. The artwork was commissioned by the Friends of the Mauritshuis Foundation to commemorate its 200th years of the Mauritshuis Museum. |
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WHIRL OF LIFE
A mini-documentary about creation, art, nature, and life, through the eyes and hands of glass sculptor Bibi Smit. The short film is showing the process of her milestone artwork “Whirl of Life”, commissioned for the Mauritshuis Museum’s 200 years celebration. Directed by Agis Konastantinidis. Watch it here: |
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Bibi Smit
In collaboration with Studio Bibi Smit Led Label Letter Z Design Height Care Johan Galjaard Ruth Gerritse Director of Mauritshuis Museum Martine Gosselink Photography Annemarie Sabelis |
Many thanks to:
Laurien Schroeder Mary Bentham Sophie Dencher Caroline Wiersum Vrienden van het Mauritshuis Medewerkers van het Mauritshuis With the support: Stichting Vrienden van het Mauritshuis Stichting van Achterbergh-Domhof Van Ommeren-de Voogt Stichting Mondriaan Fonds |
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