Lilla Tabasso Captures Botanical Decay in Hyperrealistic Murano Glass

Milan-based artist Lilla Tabasso is creating a unique dialogue between the transient nature of the organic world and the permanence of art. Her hyperrealistic sculptures, meticulously crafted from Murano glass, capture the melancholy beauty of botanical decay, preserving fleeting moments that are often overlooked. These delicate works are currently featured in “The Only True Protest Is Beauty,” the inaugural exhibition at Fondazione Dries Van Noten’s space in Venice.

Botanical Transience Immortalized

At first glance, Tabasso’s installations might be mistaken for a living garden. Wildflowers appear to emerge from soil, their stems bending with an imagined weight, and tangled roots sprawl as if freshly unearthed. However, a closer inspection reveals the illusion: every petal, leaf, stem, and root is painstakingly sculpted from Murano glass. This transformative technique breathes enduring life into elements that are inherently temporary, creating a profound tension between permanence and decay, strength and fragility.

Tabasso’s artistic focus is not on perfect blooms, but on flowers at the end of their life cycle. She is drawn to the subtle transformations: a tulip bowing towards the ground, a petal bruised by time, a leaf beginning to dry and fold inward. These intimate moments of natural decline become the subjects of her intricate glass creations, prompting viewers to contemplate the overlooked beauty in the aging process.

A Scientific Foundation

Before dedicating herself to glass art, Tabasso studied biology. This scientific background deeply informs her work, lending an extraordinary level of detail to each leaf and blossom. While her sculptures initially resemble scientific specimens, they ultimately function as emotional portraits of natural processes. Her dedication to realism is a testament to her ability to observe and translate the complexities of the natural world into glass.

Mastering Murano Glassworking

Tabasso learned the traditional Murano lampworking technique independently, navigating a field historically dominated by men. Working directly at the torch, she manipulates colored glass rods to form remarkably lifelike shapes. Through a process of building subtle tonal variations layer by layer, she imbues her glass creations with a lifelike quality that belies their material. This dedication to mastering a centuries-old craft allows her to address contemporary concerns through an ancient medium.

Echoes of Vanitas and Contemporary Relevance

The artist’s work resonates with the long-standing tradition of vanitas imagery, which uses floral motifs to remind viewers of life’s impermanence. In an era marked by environmental uncertainty and a perceived disconnection from nature, Tabasso’s sculptures serve as a powerful call to attention. They encourage a deeper appreciation for the often-unseen stages of life: the flower after its bloom, the drying leaf, the hidden root system.

Through her unique perspective and artistic practice, Tabasso offers a compelling vision of how traditional craft can evolve. By employing inherited techniques to explore themes of transformation, vulnerability, and our interconnectedness with the natural world, she demonstrates the enduring relevance of ancient knowledge in understanding contemporary challenges. Her art invites a contemplation of beauty found not just in newness, but also in the quiet dignity of decay.

Key facts

The work of Lilla Tabasso offers a unique perspective on the cyclical nature of life and beauty, presented through the enduring medium of Murano glass. Her exhibition at Fondazione Dries Van Noten provides an opportunity to engage with these themes in a significant cultural setting.

Source: Lilla Tabasso sculpts the melancholy of botanical decay in hyperrealistic Murano glass – Designboom, https://www.designboom.com/art/lilla-tabasso-melancholy-botanical-decay-hyperrealistic-murano-glass/