Solid Thoughts - Michael Behrens

Michael Behrens

SOLID THOUGHTS

Michael Behrens: SOLID THOUGHTS Exhibition Grand Opening: Saturday September 23rd 2017 at 7:00 pm

Habatat Galleries Royal Oak

ISBN: 978-1-928572-07-7

Covering 70% of the earth’s surface, the ocean is the largest habitat in the world and yet we have only explored of about 1 % of the ocean floor. According to the census of marine life, 230,000 unique species have been identified, however, it is estimated that approximately 1 million more have yet to be discovered. From exotic creatures and corals to the unmapped topography itself, the mysterious deep sea has been the inspiration for Michael Behrens’ Seaform glass sculptures. As an avid scuba diver - he has dived all over the world - Michael explores this unknown world for life and beauty.

Movement is prevalent throughout the ocean. Whether it be a school of jellyfish rising to the surface, a colony of mantis shrimp crawling on the bottom of the seabed, or a single manta ray floating in the endless ocean, Michael captures this natural and stirring movement within the interior of his glass sculpture.

Even though many of the celestial colors in Michael Behrens’ work appear almost unnatural, they are all present in the vast forms of life below the surface of the oceans. Michael uses the fluidity of glass to emulate the unique properties of water. The unusual striations found throughout Michael’s castings capture the cavern like crevasse exposed within a productive reef.

We are proud to offer an exhibition of exploring and discovering SOLID THOUGHTS by Michael Behrens.

- Corey Hampson, Habatat Galleries

Seaforms 234 - 2017

14.75 x 18 x 4.5� - Kiln cast glass

6

20 x 15.5 x 4.75� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 241 - 2017

7

Seaforms 225 - 2017

21 x 9.5 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass

8

28.75 x 14 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 212 - 2016

9

Seaforms 226 - 2017

14.75 x 11 x 3.75� - Kiln cast glass

10

14.25 x 15 x 4.75� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 231 - 2017

11

Seaforms 154 - 2015

15.75 x 15 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass

12

14 x 18.5 x 4� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 180 - 2015

13

Seaforms 251 - 2017

32 x 12.25 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass

14

26 x 16.5 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 122 - 2014

15

Seaforms 75 - 2013

13.5 x 12 x 3� - Kiln cast glass

16

26.5 x 15.75 x 6� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 205 - 2016

17

Seaforms 196 - 2016

16.25 x 11.5 x 4� - Kiln cast glass

18

25 x 14 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 166 - 2015

19

Seaforms 120 - 2014

42.5 x 21 x 7� - Kiln cast glass

20

63 x 30.5 x 8� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 175 - 2015

21

Seaforms 137 - 2015

18.5 x 14.5 x 4.5� - Kiln cast glass

22

26 x 13 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 96 - 2013

23

Seaforms 99 - 2014

48 x 23 x 7� - Kiln cast glass

24

27.5 x 17 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 128 - 2014

25

Seaforms 56 - 2012

32.5 x 31.5 x 7� - Kiln cast glass

26

28.75 x 11 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 181 - 2015

27

Seaforms 18 - 2011

28.75 x 14.5 x 5� - Kiln cast glass

28

38.5 x 18.5 x 7� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 19 - 2011

29

“I began working with glass in 2002 and have always been inspired by nature; I was especially fascinated by the underwater world. Over the years, the perception of the world through water led me to become heavily involved with the study of shape and content.

The translucent structures and surfaces I envision transform to vibrant and alluring solid forms.

During this process, it is essential to imagine the model I create as if it were transparent. The final sculpture has now become part of the environment.�

- Michael Behrens, 2017

53 x 23 x 7� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 129 - 2014

31

Seaforms 90 - 2013

21 x 16 x 5.5” - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 92 - 2013

20 x 16 x 5” - Kiln cast glass

32

19.5 x 15.75 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 252 - 2017

33

24 x 11 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 245 - 2017

35

Seaforms 121 - 2014

18.5 x 9.5 x 4.5” - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 113 - 2014

15.5 x 9.5 x 4.5” - Kiln cast glass

36

25 x 14 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass

Seaforms 108 - 2014

37

Landscapes In his wall objects, Behrens preserves the ceaseless framing of landscapes through rivers, lakes and seas - almost like a snapshot. The Everglades in Florida, an Australian Salt Lake, the Nasser reservoir in Egypt, the South-Asian Ganges delta: Water becomes form. The technical realization is thereby as complex as the image itself.

In the furnace, a plate made of optical glass is lowered over a plastically structured surface. After cooling down, the negative relief emerging on the underside of the plate is silver-plated. The landscape structures based on satellite images are abstracted and while using the technique of sandblasting, they are incorporated in the surface of a glass panel whose surface is colored in light transparent tones. Consisting of three differently pre-processed layers, the wall objects are of a stimulating complexity, their dynamic plasticity being amplified by the reflection of light and environment.

31 x 63 x 2� - Kiln cast glass

Landscapes 22 - 2013

39

Landscapes 14 - 2012

31.5 x 23.75 x 2� - Kiln cast glass

40

31.5 x 23.75 x 2� - Kiln cast glass

Landscapes 13 - 2012

41

Landscapes 17 - 2012

51 x 31 x 2� - Kiln cast glass

42

57 x 71 x 2� - Kiln cast glass

Landscapes 24 - 2013

43

Landscapes 16 - 2012

51 x 31 x 2� - Kiln cast glass

44

71 x 28 x 2� - Kiln cast glass

Landscapes 25 - 2013

45

Landscapes 12 - 2012

63 x 31 x 2� - Kiln cast glass

46

27.75 x 45.5 x 1.75� - Kiln cast glass

Landscapes 05 - 2012

47

Landscapes 19 - 2012

47.5 x 31.5 x 1.75� - Kiln cast glass

48

31.5 x 47.5 x 2� - Kiln cast glass

Landscapes 20 - 2012

49

72 x 34 x 8� - Kiln cast glass (detail also pictured on both covers)

Seaforms 208 - 2016

51