Perilous: A Sculpture of Icosohedral Forms

An Innovative Glass Tower by Elizabeth Kelly

Perilous stands out from other sculptures due to its innovative use of glass towers. Kelly's meticulous design process involves a simple molding technique that allows her to scale up the size of her sculptures. The major aesthetic considerations in her work are color and form, and the ability to customize her palette range for each project opens up exciting possibilities for architectural applications. The transparency and saturation of hue, combined with the material's compressive strength, make glass an ideal structural component that captures light in a captivating way.

Using AutoCAD, Kelly modeled Perilous and engineered carbon punch and die molds. She then melted colored glass and press-cast it into glass components. The assembly was meticulously jigged using glazing strength architectural silicone and PVA gaskets. The result is a free-standing structure that permanently saturates hue and illuminates, reflects, or refracts light. The glass blocks can be configured to fit any space, whether internal or external, and can be scaled up or down to suit the design requirements.

Perilous, with dimensions of 450 mm (width) x 450 mm (depth) x 2500 mm (height), is a timeless and sophisticated piece of art. Its enormous compressive strength makes it an ideal architectural component, capable of transforming spaces through the interplay of color and light. The project, which started in April 2012 and was completed in August 2012, is currently on a national touring exhibition in Australia, showcasing Kelly's innovative approach to glass sculpture.

Kelly's research for Perilous involved studying early 20th-century architectural glass in Europe and examining processes and business models in private studios in the USA. This extensive research, combined with her expertise in CAD and traditional modeling, has allowed her to create installations that transform spaces through the use of color and light. However, Kelly faced challenges in finding the right market to support her costly studio practice in Australia. With limited demographic support for micro-businesses in the industry, she cannot subcontract production and must secure commissions with appropriate budgets to continue her unique integration of architecture, art, and design.

Perilous has garnered recognition for its outstanding expertise and innovation. In 2014, it was awarded the Silver A' Design Award in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design category. This prestigious award recognizes designs that demonstrate remarkable technical characteristics, artistic skill, and excellence, evoking positive emotions and wonder in viewers.

Perilous, with its captivating design and innovative use of glass, is a testament to Elizabeth Kelly's ability to push the boundaries of art, architecture, and design. Her meticulous attention to color and form, combined with her expertise in glass molding, creates sculptures that captivate and inspire.