Giles Bettison: Pattern and Perception

Bettison-inset

‘’To find order in nature and then to find where it interacts or is side by side with chaos – this I believe is where the real beauty lies “’ (Giles Bettison)

Part of a series of books showcasing the work of South Australian living artists, this is a lavishly, exquisitely illustrated medium to large coffee table book featuring the work of Giles Bettison. The book accompanies a major survey exhibition of his work in August 2015 at the Australian craft and design centre at the Jam Factory in Adelaide. This exhibition has only recently closed on the 12th September.

In the mid 1990’s Giles Bettison exploded onto the international glass scene as a young artist, having studied at the famed glass programme at the Australian National University in Canberra.

In 1999 he was honoured with the Urban Glass New York Award for New Talent and was chosen for representation by major private galleries in Europe and America.

Since the late 1990’s Bettison has exhibited most frequently overseas, his works in both private and public major collections. In 2004 Bettison returned from America to South Australia, where he re – established his studio in Adelaide.

His glass is represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, and in museum collections in America and Europe.

Bettison’s constant fascination with developing extremely complex chromatic patterns in glass is inspired by landscape and other sources in the visible world, including Japanese pottery, Australian Aboriginal art African textiles, Venetian lace and more.

Some of the work is quite pointillist and abstract. Bettison seeks to explore and engage the viewer’s perception of beauty at an intuitive sensory level. He has said, ‘Almost always, in everything, I aim for beauty and visual intrigue.’

His contemporary multi layered reworking of the ancient technique of murrine glass as a voice for his distinctive creative language has earned him international acclaim. In murrine Giles Bettison found an abstract glass language in which he could express his perceptions of beauty in everyday life.

Margaret Osborne’s insightful opening essay is fascinating and instructive, providing an overview of Bettison’s life and work and introducing us to various glass blowing technical terms and leaves us wanting more…

We learn about the various techniques, how Bettison is influenced by the landscape and the various series of works he has produced.

At the back of the book there is a very handy extensive chronology of Bettison’s work, a CV listing his group and solo works and there is also a bibliography.

Most of the book, however, is devoted to superb lavish, glowing full page illustrations of Bettison’s various works in luminous detail (some 118 illustrations in all).

At the beginning of the book there is a photo of him working and we have shots of the Billet, Lace, Paddock series and also an identifying listing for each of them, with technical information and where they have been exhibited.

Margot Osborne lives in Adelaide SA and is currently completing her PhD. She is a writer, art critic, curator and art historian and has written many articles as well as three other books.

Verdict. This is a sumptuous visual feast. A work to be savored and treasured.

Title: Giles Bettison : Pattern and Perception

Author: Margot Osborne

EAN: 9781743053812

ISBN: 1743053819

Publisher: Wakefield Press

Dimensions: 28 x 23.5 centimetres (1.18 kg)

Age Range: 15+ years