Art at a thousand degrees
- Luis' specialty is blown glass
- He works with colour effects at different stages of the making process
- He enjoys the research part of his craft the most
After graduating from the Fine Arts faculty, Luis Machí enrolled in the Barcelona Glass School, where he participated in various exchanges with students from other glass schools in Europe (France and Scotland). From there, he independently attended schools and workshops of glass masters where he gained experience. One of the courses he attended took place in Mexico, where he joined the production teams of blown glass artisanal pieces. "I do not think it was a matter of choice. Like almost everything in life, there is a path that leads you as you progress in the search for things that call and motivate you. Glass had the necessary ingredients for me to continue with it," says Luis about his craft. He opened his workshop in 2004. His first pieces were plates and centrepieces. "When I finally started blowing glass, the objects I made were lighting pieces," he explains.
Interview
- How did you start?
- I started in a small garage with a homemade furnace, where I made simple pieces that I sold in shops in Madrid and Barcelona. Little by little, I settled in my definitive workshop where I continue to expand the technical possibilities every day through equipment or mechanical devices and tools that I build myself.
- Why did you choose glass?
- From the first day I saw it in France, I was captivated by the fire, the smell, the atmosphere, and the beauty of this material at over 1000°C. The artistic possibilities of incandescent glass are practically impossible to encompass.
- What sets your approach apart?
- I have achieved a glass formulation that meets very high standards of quality, both in its optical characteristics, brightness and cleanliness, and in the characteristics of blown glass work. It is a low melting point glass with long thermal inertia.
- How much is known about your craft among the general public?
- In Spain, it is much more difficult for the public to understand that the value of blown glass pieces may be higher than other much more affordable and accessible materials. There is an absolute lack of knowledge about the working process in this technique.
Luis Machí is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2000 and he started teaching in 2020
Works
Where
Luis Machí
