Sunrise Yellow and Azure Tower
A work created by Dale Chihuly, regarded as the foremost master of blown glass sculpture, designed exclusively for the University of Monterrey, and standing above the staggered fountain at The Solar Garden.
Chihuly draws inspiration from organic shapes and nature, using light and color as elements he recovers through blown glass. His artistic proposal explores and challenges the limits of the material, creating complex, dynamic, and mesmerizing installations.
THE WORK
The American artist experiments with scale and form to create towering installations that beautifully respond to the architectural and natural environments where the work is located, including historical cities, museums, and botanical gardens around the world.
Chihuly has previously shared his thoughts about this type of installations: “I love to juxtapose the manmade and the natural to make people wonder, are they manmade or did they come from nature? That’s a very important part of my work.”
Chihuly's tower installations are elevated and freestanding sculptures that evolved from his signature chandeliers. We have an example of these on display on level B of the Estoa building, entitled Monterrey 400, which is part of the Monterrey Glass Museum's collection. The university formed an alliance with the museum to exhibit this piece as an introduction to the UDEM community.
UDEM INSTALLATION
In 2023, UDEM and the Chihuly Studio began discussions, studies, and preparations to make possible the creation of Sunrise Yellow and Azure Tower.
For this piece created for UDEM, the production of the elements alone required around eight weeks, in addition to nearly two months for packaging preparations and shipping logistics. The actual installation of the artwork was carried out by two specialized studio personnel over three days. Prior to this, the piece was assembled in Seattle, where Dale Chihuly’s workshop and studio are located, to review details and support.
During this time, the University made adjustments and preparations to permanently host this artwork.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE UDEM COMMUNITY
- Hosting the work of one of the most internationally renowned artists will provide an opportunity to further position the university as a cultural reference on a global scale and continue its commitment to promoting the arts.
- Exhibiting a piece that invites reflection on nature and a constant quest for innovation, this installation revitalizes the campus with its vivid colors and organic forms, reminding us of the beauty of artistic exploration and innovation.
- This endeavor reflects UDEM's commitment to art and education, providing a meeting point where creativity and innovation come to life.
Dale Chihuly
An internationally renowned artist, born in Washington, USA, in 1941, Chihuly is considered the absolute master of blown glass sculpture, a technique he has advanced since the beginning of the Studio Glass movement. His work is a blend of art, craft, light, color, balance, and fragility, elevating and transforming a traditional technique into a contemporary art form, breaking down the barriers between craft and art.
His passion for glass led him to teach at the Rhode Island School of Design and later to found the Pilchuck Glass School, the world's leading glass school. Based in Seattle, he works with a team of glassblowers in his studio, constantly pushing the material's limits.
Over his more than fifty-five-year artistic career, he has worked on numerous complex and daring projects such as "Chihuly Over Venice," "Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem," and "Chihuly: Gardens and Glass," making him the most internationally recognized glass artist. His work is part of over a hundred museums, cultural institutions, and public space collections worldwide. He holds twelve honorary university degrees.
I want people to be overwhelmed with light and color in some way that they've never experienced."