On the glass road from Iran to Italy
- Saman invented the paper-thin pâte de verre technique
- He received numerous international awards for his glass pieces
- His Silk Road collection is inspired by his hometown Shiraz in Iran
Saman Kalantari creates one-of-a-kind, paper-thin glass art with a careful mix of design, contemporary art and craftsmanship. Before turning to glass, he studied translation and interpretation, and worked with ceramics. In 2004, Saman left his home country Iran and settled in Bolzano in Italy. This is where he discovered glass and took part in a two-year Vetroricerca course after he was enchanted by it. Saman received numerous international awards for his works, which he makes using an innovative, thin pâte de verre technique he developed. "I focus more on experimenting and researching than on creating commissioned works, which I only make a few of each year. The time I dedicate to glass is precious, however it is not the only material I use in my artistic journey. I enjoy exploring several paths at the same time," Saman explains.
Interview
- Why did you choose glass as a medium of expression?
- When I moved from Iran to Italy, I visited a contemporary glass exhibition in Bolzano. I saw the possibilities that this material offered and decided to study it. I have a background in ceramics, and I come from a country with a rich history linked to glass and ceramics, so it was also natural to me in a sense.
- What inspires your creativity?
- I compare my inspiration sources to gardening. I either buy the seeds I want to plant and know exactly what I am growing, or I wait for the wind to blow wild seeds and find out what got planted after a while. My mind works like this garden. For example, for my Still Life series, I draw a lot of inspiration from Giorgio Morandi.
- Is there a technique that distinguishes your work?
- My works are a balance of design, contemporary art and craftsmanship – the right dose of each. Technically speaking, I am known in the glass field for my thin works that I create with an innovative variation of pâte de verre. It is a technique that I invented, called paper-thin pâte de verre.
- What do you love most about working with glass?
- It is a complicated, love-hate relationship. I was happily working with ceramics when I was drawn to this intriguing material. Since then, I cannot let go of it, even though it makes my life a little difficult at times. In general, I like the possibility of creating something that has never existed, in an innovative way that has not been explored before.
Saman Kalantari is a master artisan: he began his career in 2005 and he started teaching in 2014
Works
Where
Saman Kalantari
