Alexandra Mureșan

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Glass sculptor | Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Following her heart into glass art

Many of Alexandra’s works are made from recycled glass
She uses hot glass and coldworking techniques
Her work juxtaposes traditional craft and contemporary art

Alexandra Mureșan fell in love with glass after visiting the Hentrich Glass Museum in Düsseldorf. She obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees in ceramics and glass from the University of Art and Design (UAD) in Cluj, after previously studying philosophy for four years. Highly appreciated in academic and artistic environments, in 2016 Alexandra received the summa cum laude distinction for her PhD research, entitled The Invisible and Unpredictable in the Contemporary Language of Glass Art. In 2013 she was awarded Germany's Jutta Cuny – Franz Memorial Award, which recognises outstanding talent and is granted every two years to artists who make significant use of glass in their work. Alexandra is now a lecturer at the Department of Ceramic, Glass and Metal of UAD.

Interview

©Marius Șumlea & Craft Magazine

©Marius Șumlea & Craft Magazine

What do you love most about your profession?: I love the versatility of glass, because there are so many ways to shape it, but also the influence this profession has had on my personality. It requires constant practice of creativity, presence of mind, discipline and patience. Teaching the craft to others is also very fulfilling.
What was the first object you made?: The first work I made in glass was a sculpture that portrayed my view on the connection between the object itself and its shadow. It was a work comprised of two pieces of glass, one made by glassblowing and the other made by fusion, with metal and wood.
How would you explain your practice?: I work with various glass techniques, from hot glass to coldworking. I like to experiment a lot and challenge the behaviour of glass as much as possible. I combine glass with different materials like rusted iron and wire fishing nets, and put together pieces of glass made with different techniques.
What kind of themes do you tackle?: I recently explored the dialectic between the conventionally perceived beauty in glass and what is seen as flawed but equally expressive – like a fragile and sensual piece obtained through slumping or a rough glass frame intentionally cracked but polished.

Alexandra Mureșan is a master artisan: she began her career in 2011 and she started teaching in 2017