Totem2011 & 2022

Totem developed out of Bethan’s ongoing interest in the layering and mixing of different shapes, colours and textures to evoke connections within the viewer’s imagination. Bethan began working with Pietro Viero through the AAA Cercasi Nuovo Artigiano residency in 2010.

Inspired by the qualities of Pyrex, Totem is made from various glass volumes that are layered and locked together to create an airy light that explores the translucency and thinness intrinsic to this type of glass.

With this collection of lights Bethan has mixed the aesthetics typical of Pyrex volumes associated with the medical and chemistry industries, with the creativity of hand-blown techniques. The result is a system, where depending on how the different components are stacked, an aesthetic of science fiction is evoked; creating robots and rockets to strange aquatic animals and translucent clowns.

Totem no.8 was added to the collection in 2022

Dimensions:
height 300mm – 1000mm, width 240mm
(not including bulbs or cord)

Fabrication:
Hand-blown Pyrex glass;
made in collaboration with artisan Pietro Viero
Crown-mirrored bulbs
Limited edition of 4 + 2 APs per design

Totem has been developed exclusively for Nilufar Gallery

Images by Ruy Teixeira & Giorgos Nalbadis