The ancient craft of glass blowing is fundamental to my art practice. This technically rigorous and inventive work requires patience, endurance and daring. It is also fun: I enjoy using and adapting traditional techniques in the pursuit of surprising new visions. With this as a starting point, my aim is to produce exhibitions that are challenging in content and form while offering the audience an inspiring experience.
For several years I have been constructing mixed media landscapes in which glass characters interact to make dreamlike stories. The protagonists are hybrid creatures that bridge the gaps between plants, animals and machines; these include Plantbird, Torpedoshark and Potatofishcar. … Striving to invigorate the audience experience of glass has led me to embrace new technologies through collaboration with digital photographers and animators. The combination of handmade glass with digital animation opens the door to all manner of possibilities for expression. I am optimistic that this mixture will allow me to defy gravity and to melt the coldest heart.

Tom Moore was born in 1971 in Canberra, Australia.He graduated from Canberra School of Art Glass workshop in 1994, trained in production techniques at Jam Factory until 1997 and worked as the production manager at Jam Factory for 15 years. He is now a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia.

This lecture is made possible through the generous support of the Canberra Glassworks