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Cesare Toffolo is a World Master of Lamp Work Glass. The ease, the speed and the precision of his work is unrivaled. At the beginning of his career, he focused on the traditional Murano functional glass forms, while developing new techniques for Lamp Work like filligrine and gold leaf overlay.
In the early 1990's, his focus shifted to the contemporary, and his traditional vessels became sculptures populated by - his now famous -
Small Figures. Like drops of water, these Figures are pouring out of
Anfora; in Opera they are on a scaffolding painting a traditional vessel; in
Colori they are covered by the dripping paint and in Piccoli Uomini couples interact in various positions on goblets having Cesare's signature
filligrines.
ForVenezia Aperto Vetro, the 1988 International Exhibit of Glass Art, Cesare created
Balloons held in the air by chains. On the gold leaf covering one side of the Balloons, he etched Classical Paintings. The Figures climb the chain to reach the inside of the Balloons and stand there, in owe, in front of the Classics. With this (to paraphrase Karen Chamber),
Cesare paid homage to his artistic heritage while adding his
to be continued |
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Il Mondo di Cesare Toffolo
elaborates on the
figurative theme. Anfora, Opera, Colori and Granelli 2000 are bigger and with novel twists. In
Natura Morta, the Figures in the fruit dishes have postures that combine contemplation & play. In
Colonna, a figure sits high on this Muranese landmark, as if it were
Cesare, proudly overlooking the Venetian Archipelago from his native
Murano.
Cesare has more to be proud of than his artistic achievements. He is the founder and the driving force behind
Centro Studio Vetro, a group of
artists with a dual mission: recapturing the historic role of Murano as the World Capital of Glass and disseminating Glass Art culture around the World. What
Cento and its VETRO magazine have achieved during their few years in existence is admirable. |