Hands That Fuse!
This is one of the most exciting telephonic rendezvous i have done so far, not because it’s (saat samundar paar, lol) back in United Kingdom, but because I am totally smitten by Namrata Kedia’s magical fused glass creations. She articulated the minutest details, mesmerized me to an extent that i could actually imagine and relate to every word she spoke.
Formally trained and having topped in fine arts, Namrata backs a bag full of awards from the Governor of Rajasthan, Queen of Kota, to name a few. After dabbling her journey in various forms of art, she found her destiny in playing with non-crystalline amorphous solids, i.e. Glass. She not only sells across the country (U.K) but also runs successful “Day Experience” courses and has conducted Kiln Formed Glass workshops for over 750 students in two years. While she truly believes, “Sky’s the limit” she’s exhibited her work at prestigious shows like British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF), White Knights Studio Trail, Henley Art Festival.
Style Prer (SP): What is Montages ? Montages – The Glass Studio
Namrata Kedia (NK): Montages is designer glass studio in Reading- United Kingdom, that was born out of a sheer love for glass. The glass studio not only helps me bring out my creativity and curate it, but I also conduct workshops for students to learn the art here.
SP: What’s the kind of art/work you do in Montages ?
NK: (Elaborating)- In Montages we make the Kiln formed glass or Studio glass. Cutting of the glass involves various methods, chemicals, metals, and other finishes. It’s then placed in the kiln, applying a very specific firing schedule to combine all the elements and together making it a single piece of art. As easy it may sound, but the making involves not only an eye for art and design but also an understanding of science, chemical reactions and oxidations processes. A single mistake can cause the glass to have a thermal shock and therefore it takes years to gain experience and understanding of glass as a subject.
NK: Categories range from jewelry, large and small wall panels, display plates, platters, coasters, greeting cards to hangings. Essentially any product category could be worked upon, depending on the inclination and determination an individual has!
In India, though the international trend may influence the fashion or lifestyle industry, but it still has it’s own indigenous designs, some of which being used in modern context. India has a huge palette of design, right from traditional to modern and the colours come from all aspects of life.
