Fons Uytdehaag

Under the spell of Beauty.

Fons Uytdehaag (Roosendaal 1946) sees glass art as a medium to explore ideas and experiences, to push boundaries, and to enter into a dialogue with himself and others. He finds inspiration for the creation of his objects mainly in the wealth of forms of nature, in science and travel. Fons is self-taught. He started working on glass art in 2012, after completing a career as a virologist. The choice of glass as a medium for expression was accidental. After a glass fusion course with Sascha Hacska, a kilncasting workshop with Effie Halkidis and glassblowing workshops with master glassblower Gert Bullée in Amsterdam and Leerdam, he was immediately hooked.
“After a long search for what really fascinates me about working with glass, I am finally home, back to square one, the first objects I made: the bird nests ‘Satao Elerai’ blown into frames of copper wire. I am particularly fascinated by the making process itself, the dancing with glass, the interactions between hot glass, metals and other materials.”
This often leads to whimsical organic shapes and surprising chemical reactions, especially in Fons’ more recent works in which he uses metal meshes. He does not make illustrative work but still tries to tell a story with his objects. As soon as the work leaves the studio it is for the viewer, who hopefully recognizes the soul (WOW!) that he has tried to put into it. That’s why he started WOW!GLASS.