Bettina Schori

Glass sculptor

©Kirstine Autzen

Glass resurrected

Bettina studied at design school for five years
She loves to find and play with unconventional discarded materials
Used objects get a new life in a new context

Bettina Schori is a glass designer with a passion for upcycling, which is the process of transforming waste materials into new products. Driven by a desire to use as few resources as possible, she explores the opportunities of reusing discarded objects and waste materials - giving them new life in new contexts. Bettinas interest in upcycling started with her exploration of reusing glass bottles. Bottles were a natural choice of material, since they can be found everywhere; in many sizes, shapes and colours. Bettina alters and transforms the bottles and combines these parts with other materials like wooden objects, rubber gaskets, tin cans, silver trophies, tupperware, ventilation propellers, metal springs, porcelain figurines, mason jars and much more. At the moment Bettinas work centers around creating unique upcycling lamps. In addition, she also creates sculptural objects.

Interview

©Kirstine Autzen

What are your sources of inspiration?: The world around me: cycles of nature, an awareness of our impermanence, the fact that everything changes. I see new options in discarded materials, I give them a new life, another context. Used products with a story inspire me a lot.
What are your specialist skills?: One of my skills is having a good eye for proportions. I also have the ability to see new opportunities in unusual materials. Being open-minded, finding new possibilities and seeing a small story behind every objects: these elements make for wonderful adventures.
How would you define what you do?: I tell stories and play with materials. I work with proportions, shapes, colours, contrast and connections. Combining all these elements, for me, is a process much like playing. The unpredictability can be a challenge, but mostly I see it as a gift.
What do you love most about your profession?: I love when my work touches something in the viewer. When it can bring inspiration and joy into people’s lives.

Bettina Schori is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1995