Czebe István

The last few months passed with feverish work. „I myself could not understand how we succeeded to finish the reconstruction of glass windows of the Matthias Church on time. Each table was subtlety picked up using small-size diamond cutting disks. Here in the studio the tables were dismantled and the original lead patterns were fixed with strict accordance of the restoration principles and rules. All phases were continuously documented. We made new elements for the damaged pieces, and for the foreign replacements, definitely needed to be replaced.”

“Graduating at the Salgótarján high school, I started to work at the Salgótarján Bottle-glass Works besides Mr. Sándor Erdei, glass artist, who was my mentor as well. After graduating the College of Applied Arts, thanks to György Buczkó, I might frequent the Tokod Glass Plant. For us, it was the best choice in this country. Melted glass was available in large quantities. We could test the size and form limits of the hot glass production. For the safe design and production, you need a sound knowledge of materials. You can learn and progress using your errors only.”

“I am working with hot glass using the recent real possibilities. It would be nice to practice a lot more. These trunks were made recently. At the end of the blowpipe the molten glass is formed by the gravity, by the centrifugal force and (minimally) by the tool. I like the molten glass, as it is formed right before my eyes and by my guidance. It is important that the pieces fit together exactly, to stand on each other.

“I am interested in the statics of the objects, where a piece of glass holds an other in a structure. At my objects I seek a floating effect. The sculptures, integrated by fusing, become exciting plastic experiments, just because their substance: the glass itself. I look for the boundaries in my constructions. This, of course, causes some headaches, and requires high driving of experimentation and a lot of patience.”

“I can not decide whether an object, fashioned in clay, would be good in glass. I am creating unique pieces, using plaster molds only once, I make no rubber molds. When a plaster mold is ready, I contemplate over it a while, whether it is really what I want. Then I put the size-cut glass flakes into the mold one by one. It is like a domino. If falling over, I must start again.”

“I am dealing with frontal-set objects most, and my sculptures are posted on massive pedestals. I mainly prefer the black-and-white contrasts. The most exciting and most interesting details are those fitting the two colours, or being shaped the curves. I try to make the glass as thin as possible, and the dark parts appear like glass, revealing the internal structures. “

An artwork can not „act” below a certain size. The smallest piece he made till now perhaps this piece of cake with a candle, actually a concept of a souvenir. For our part we can imagine that somebody would be pleased getting this piece as birthday present.

It was understood that many things can fit to the geometry. The shapes of the „pop-art style” lying figure can stretch our mind more than any other human description. How much effective is the figure, legs flailing, if somebody wants to create the parody of the „Seasonal Greetings”! And it is an all-over humour, that a sculpture with a turquoise application got the title „Right Eye of Terrence Hill”.

3/12/2013 Budapest

Ferenczy Noémi Prize (2003)

President of the Hungarian Glass Art Sociaty