BOOK REVIEW
(This review first appeared in the Journal of the British Society of Scientific Glassblowers, April 2021 issue)
LUCIO BUBACCO – EROTICS. ISBN978-3-89790-515-3
I have always wanted to introduce eroticism to the BSSG and what better way than to review this very colourful book about the work of the Italian glass artist Lucio. When I say colourful, I mean really, really colourful both in subject matter and photography. Norbert Heyl is credited as the person responsible for capturing the erotic imagery of the lampworked figures in all types of poses. I hope that some of the illustrations reproduced here (courtesy of the publisher Arnoldsche) entice you to delve further into the work of Lucio. I have spent hours drooling over the close up of the figures and savored every detail no matter how small.
It was impressive to read in the book that Lucio took two years off his glass duties to study anatomical drawing. Then again it should be obvious as it explains how he can reproduce the naked figures so accurately. It is imagination then that adds a vibrancy that is achieved by using coloured glass in combinations which may include up to fifty colours in one piece of work. When that work maybe up to 120 cms high then we are talking in installations phrases.
If you are not familiar with the work shown in this book then imagine a combination of Greek mythology, an orgy filmed by Italian director Tinto Brass and the painting by Hieronymus Bosch “Garden of Earthly Delights”. If you are still unsure then look Lucio up on the Internet. Better still buy this book and take a risk as it appears some of these figures have.
Any lampworker who takes their craft serious must at sometime or another tried their hand at making figures. I always find you can get away with clothed males and females rather than exposing your limited skills by going naked! I always have a problem with the groin area. Not so with Lucio as this physical attribute takes centre stage in a lot of sculptures.
I now find with my collection of books that when I read one title it leads me to another, and this is what happen here. Before I had reached the page, which illustrated Lucio’s interpretation of the “Sado Exhibitionists’ Party” I found myself looking for my copy of Paul Stankard’s book, “Homage to Nature” (ISBN 0-8109-4473-1) to study his root people. Incidentally, Paul has written the Preface to Lucio’s book. I did consult one of my favourite glass artists Hans Good Frabel and his book “Reflections of Glass on Water”, (ISBN 978-09794491-1-6) and did comparisons with his dancing clowns. I then went straight to Milon Townsend, Advanced Flameworking Volume 1” (ISBN 0-9708939-1-4). Milon has in my view a straightforward approach in describing how to make a male nude. I raised a smile to read his instruction of taking “thinner rod to attach penis”. Lucio doesn’t use any such words to describe his work and all his work stands up as very strong visuals of human action in all its exposed glory. Just by gazing at the photographs made me want to jump inside and join the party!!!
Various interpretations and possible explanations are given in the book by Andrew Page, Klaus Weschenfelder and Steffen John. It was whilst reading Andre’s comments on Lucio’s work that I learn Lucio doesn’t think much of the art installation titled Carrona, (Carrion) by Javier Perez which consists of a traditional Venetian chandelier in blood red glass that had crashed to the floor, where it is being devoured by stuffed black crows. I loved that work, and seen it in real life at the Corning Museum of Glass. It’s featured in the book “Glass Stress New York” (ISBN 978-88572-1406-1). It seems that Lucio appreciates art that is made by an artist and doesn’t perhaps believe in delegation. This thought could limit his work as an artist, but it is refreshing to learn in the book that Lucio is now working with kiln formed glass as well as blown glass from the furnace and incorporating his lampworked figures into this medium. Very clever and I look forward to his future work.
I was lucky to see Lucio in action at Silverstone for the 2012 Flame Off and watched him spellbound for over an hour whilst he made one of his figures. I don’t remember it being erotic though. Must have missed something! There were no carrots sticking out of bottoms as depicted in this book. That’s not the most erotic image within the pages though. When you get the book let me know what is going in in the photograph on page 58. It could be said that eroticism is matter of taste. Brilliant craftmanship however cannot be denied and all involved in producing this title are to be congratulated for promoting the skills of the humble lampworker in such a vibrant and captivating manner. I have seen Lucio’s musicians in the Corning Museum of Glass and again the erotic nature of the work escaped so I just have to go back!
One image does bother me and although I am reluctant to mention it, I feel I have to if this is to be an honest review. The title of the book and its subjects all revolve around the act of erotic behavior and yet there is one work that I would not include nor expect to see. An image featured across two pages depicts many naked emancipated figures lampworked into a blown glass disc with the title “Holocaust”. If ever there was a work that would benefit from an explanation written up next to the image, then it was here.
In a previous World I would recommend that to see this book contact the BSSG Library to borrow a copy. Unfortunately, it seems libraries are a bit of a minority sport these days and our Society’s library at Oxford University under the expert custodianship of Terri Adams is being ignored. Having said that if It’s this book you are interested in then you will not find it in the library (yet) and I would say, as most do, get a copy of the Internet. I would always and almost without thinking go to the well known “Amazon” website but this time I found an alternative site booksetc.co.uk and this gave a better deal and with free postage. Those more Internet savy than me will say both sites belong the same company but I did find differences in prices.
I must give due appreciation to the publisher of this book and their website at arnoldsche.com. Great bargains to be had if one keeps an eye on the website regularly. It’s very helpful to be able to look at a selection of pages of a book before one purchase.
Very interesting ….went and had a look ….his Leda and the swan is amazing …..interesting to see glass sculpture used in this way.