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Glass apart!

Different route
Last Updated 12 November 2015, 18:34 IST

Despite the several hazards involved in handling glass, Nirmala Murali Mohan takes the risk and makes it well worth it.

The 62-year-old specialises in fused glass art— she creates innovative home decor and other display and utility items using compatible coloured glass sheets, recycled bottles, broken windshields and even ordinary discarded window panes under her label ‘Gilas’. “The art of glass fusion is the process of using a kiln to join together pieces of glass. When two or more pieces of glass are fired at a high temperature, they will soften and stick together (or fuse) to make a homogenous piece,” she explains.

Nirmala says she was always creatively inclined and engaged in activities like crochet work, knitting, tatting (lace-making), wood carving and leather embossing during her youth. She did a course in interior designing and even freelanced for a few projects. Also trained as a jewellery designer, she was actively involved in her family business of fine gold and diamond jewellery.

“I was aware of fused glass art, but it was out of my reach then and not very heard of in the country. Incidentally, when I was visiting my daughter in San Diego in 2001, I chanced upon a short-term course in the art and attended it. The concept appealed to both my scientific and artistic side. However, at that point, it was impossible to practise it in India since glass kilns, other tools needed and mainly compatible glass were not available here,” she says.

Her keenness to pursue it was strong enough for two years later, she got a glass kiln, some tools and other supplies shipped back in her son’s consignment when he returned home from the US. “I began experimenting with recycled local window glass. I made clear glass items like candle holders and huge display tiles sandwiched with copper wire and silver foil, gifting them to people initially. Within a few years, I graduated to coloured glass pieces and came up with many more things. It was a large collection by then and I showcased it at a lifestyle store in the City. That’s when the sales began; my experiments grew manifold and ‘Gilas’ took shape in 2012,” states Nirmala, recalling her journey into this stimulating and imaginative art form.

She makes everything herself and churns out a number of praiseworthy creations with her ingenuity. She creates attractive cheese platters, bowls, wall clocks, wall hangings, tissue holders and windchimes mainly from whole bottles and pendants from slices of bottles. However, she primarily works with different sheets of glass (compatible coloured glass)— cutting and fusing them to make various art pieces that include home decor items, Buddha, Ganesha, Om and other abstract wall art.

Then there are tastefully crafted big bowls, handbag holders, visiting card holders, fridge magnets and more pendants, some with copper wire work. Nirmala also designs big flowers which are fixed on to a copper stake and placed in a flower pot while the shattered windshields are beautifully transformed into tealights, fruit platters and face masks. “Sometimes, I take seasonal inspiration and make glass ‘diyas’ for Diwali as well as Christmas tree ornaments,” she adds.

The entrepreneur has displayed her work at many flea markets and exhibitions in Bengaluru and says that people have been very appreciative of it, although the high prices that the art commands deter many.

Nirmala elaborates that there’s much that goes behind the scenes, behind each piece one sees. “It’s a time consuming art with a lot of health hazards involved. Dealing with materials like kiln cement, fibre wool and glass powder requires one to wear a respiratory mask to avoid damage to the lungs. While cutting and scouring glass, there are chances of injuring one’s fingers. The shards (fine glass pieces) may fly and get into one’s arms and feet, causing cuts,” she details adding, “But it is worth the effort for the end product almost always comes out brilliant. This unique art makes me feel young and imbues me with an incredible sense of achievement.”

Nirmala’s creations can be accessed through her Facebook page ‘Gilas by nirmala’.

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(Published 12 November 2015, 14:50 IST)

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