Discover A Mesmerising Glass Installation For Floriade

From today, visitors to Canberra Centre will be captivated by an incredible set of glass sculptures that celebrate colours and flowers, in ode Canberra’s iconic festival, Floriade.

The piece, titled 12 Hours of Daylight, was commissioned by Canberra Centre and created by local Glassworks Artist Hannah Gason using mastery of glassmaking techniques to interplay glass, light, and artistic expression. 

Inspired by landscapes and the floral fields of Floriade, the sculpture features transparent and opaque glass, fused together to create layers, lines, and edges that result in visually captivating pieces that capture the essence of nature’s transformation. Framing the glass in position is a spring field of grasses and flowers.

The creative talent behind this installation is Hannah Gason. Hannah graduated from the ANU School of Art and in 2015 with a Bachelor of Visual Arts with Honours and was awarded a University Medal. Hannah has been an artist in residence at the Bullseye Glass Company, a visiting artist at Berlin Glas, a teaching assistant at the Corning Museum of Glass and participant at North Lands Creative Glass in Scotland. Working from her studio at the Canberra Glassworks, Hannah has exhibited nationally and internationally, with work housed in the Australian Parliament House Art Collection, the Australian National Art Glass Collection and the ANU Art Collection.

“Whether reflecting the delicate petals of a flower or the vibrant hues of a rainbow, each artwork in this exhibition tells a unique story of the profound connection between colours, flowers, and the magical world of glass and light,” says Ms Gason.

Incorporating light and colour is a major focus for Gason in this art piece, which is meticulously arranged to control and manipulate these elements. Her works utilise overlapping patterns and surface finishes to produce a network of illusions within the glass that perfectly capture Floriade’s 2023 theme Floral Wonderland.

“Rich colours reminiscent of liquid ink are employed, and when light passes through them, they become intensified and ethereal, evoking a sense of wonder and awe,” she explains. 

Don't miss the chance to guess the number of shards of grass blades as part of the display for the chance to win a $500 Canberra Centre Gift Card. The winner will be the closest guess, to enter scan the QR Code located on the glass floor next to the installation. 

Canberra Centre’s glass artwork 12 Hours of Daylight is located on the glass floor outside Zara and will remain on display for the duration of the festival. Following its tenure at Canberra Centre, the artwork will go to Canberra Museum & Gallery. 

In conjunction with the festival and in line with the artwork’s theme, Canberra Centre will also be hosting a series of complimentary school holiday workshops find out more HERE. 

Discover other key events on across Floriade HERE.