Ramon Beaskoetxea
Catalan Glass Artist
Copyright Ramon Beaskoetxea 2009
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Some words of my glass work:
My speciality is working with hot glass and copper. The title of my MFA is "Masculinity", a result of an exploration of its last 50 years of changes.
With this work I am trying to portray the so called fusion of genders, the seek for identity, and the search for gender equality.
With this work I am trying to portray the so called fusion of genders, the seek for identity, and the search for gender equality.
About Me
- My name is Ramon Beaskoetxea Sans
- Born and raised near Barcelona, lived in Edinburgh for the last 10 years, and where I have completed my Bachelor in Arts and Applied Arts, and recently my Masters in Fine Art specializing in glass
Master of Fine Art 2009 "Artist Statement"
My present work is an exploration of masculinity. During the last 50 years, different movements such as Feminism have confronted the old masculine identity of leadership and breadwinning and query gender issues towards social equality. The coming out of gay-men and its influence in fashion and body culture have brought new stereotypes of masculinity that could be described as a more homo-hetero “blend”. I feel that it is nowadays when we start to notice the consequences of these events in the form of a fusion between genders; in fashion, in body culture and in body care.
To represent this idea, I have mixed the muscular structure of a strong arm with the delicate and fragile work of lace pattern. By using glass and copper I allow my work to question social stereotypes such as “men are stronger than women” , through the contradiction of materials; Reason why I use glass to sculpt the male arm and copper to create the feminine lace pattern.
For the glass arms I have used browns and terracotta colours to relate it to masculinity, and for the lace work I have used black in order to give it a more feminine sexual look. The two final objects or icons have been assembled through electroforming, and finally patinated and polished to give the piece an attractive finish.
To represent this idea, I have mixed the muscular structure of a strong arm with the delicate and fragile work of lace pattern. By using glass and copper I allow my work to question social stereotypes such as “men are stronger than women” , through the contradiction of materials; Reason why I use glass to sculpt the male arm and copper to create the feminine lace pattern.
For the glass arms I have used browns and terracotta colours to relate it to masculinity, and for the lace work I have used black in order to give it a more feminine sexual look. The two final objects or icons have been assembled through electroforming, and finally patinated and polished to give the piece an attractive finish.
Masculinity
"Masculinity VII"
"Masculinity III"
"Masculinity III"
"Masculinity IV"
"Masculinity IV"
"Masculinity IV"
"Masculinity I"
"Masculinity I"
"Masculinity VIII"
"Masculinity II"
Degree Show 2007 "Artist Statment"
My exhibition entitled “Bull-Fighting”, focuses on the power relationship between men and animals and refers to their interaction in the arena. The project originated from research conducted in my native country, Spain on the bull fight, a defining icon of our culture. This phenomenon is considered by many to be a traditional and artistic event but has always been surrounded by controversy. From a cultural and ethical perspective, the sport is questionable due to its obvious brutality and anachronistic nature. While the power, the elegance, the wildness and bravery of the bull, make me proud to be considered a Spaniard when I see what the bulls have to go through in the arena, I want to deny being a part of this culture.
My first intention was to recreate the textures produced by the hooks against the animal, something I developed when experimenting with glass and metals. I also wanted to display another important sociological aspect of the bullfight, “machismo”, which is why I have chosen the testicle form for my final pieces.
As I sought to portray the feeling of torture and bravery, I pierced my glass with lethal copper hooks, which are finally fired inside a kiln. In doing so I was attempting to achieve the feeling of stretchiness. The slumping has not only accomplished the strain, but has also separated the oxide surface created by the chemical composition of some glass colours to give the finish an organic look. Finally, to reinforce the sadistic and rough aspect of this torture, I suspend the piece with leather straps.
The ten hanging testicles symbolise the 10000 bulls, both young and adult, sacrificed every year in bull fights. Hanging along with them are a group of bulls’ skins which refer to the bulls aged from two to three years which are also being killed despite not yet having fully formed testicles. Everything is suspended on top of textured sand to recreate the look of the arena after a fight has taken place.
A play of colour has been achieved through the choice of dark browns and blacks which refer to the bull and the red of the copper, a colour of passion, desire and thirst for power which has been patinated to achieve ageing.
As a glass artist specializing in glass blowing and kiln forming, I felt that the use of glass, a super-cooled liquid, might best define cruelty and torture. As a hot-cold material it provides an excellent reference to the hotness created by the excitement of the show and the coldness of death.
Bull-Fighting
"turmesIX"
"turmesIII"
"turmesIII" Close Up
"turmes"
"turmes II & VI"
Other years work within the learnings in Edinburgh college of Art
This is work done during my third year, with a centrifugal machine in Denmark DesignSkole
Denmark Lights
Work done in my Second year in ECA
"Carving Nature"
