Michael Behrens
SOLID THOUGHTS
Michael Behrens: SOLID THOUGHTS Exhibition Grand Opening: Saturday September 23rd 2017 at 7:00 pm Habatat Galleries Royal Oak
ISBN: 978-1-928572-07-7
Covering 70% of the earth’s surface, the ocean is the largest habitat in the world and yet we have only explored of about 1 % of the ocean floor. According to the census of marine life, 230,000 unique species have been identified, however, it is estimated that approximately 1 million more have yet to be discovered. From exotic creatures and corals to the unmapped topography itself, the mysterious deep sea has been the inspiration for Michael Behrens’ Seaform glass sculptures. As an avid scuba diver - he has dived all over the world - Michael explores this unknown world for life and beauty. Movement is prevalent throughout the ocean. Whether it be a school of jellyfish rising to the surface, a colony of mantis shrimp crawling on the bottom of the seabed, or a single manta ray floating in the endless ocean, Michael captures this natural and stirring movement within the interior of his glass sculpture. Even though many of the celestial colors in Michael Behrens’ work appear almost unnatural, they are all present in the vast forms of life below the surface of the oceans. Michael uses the fluidity of glass to emulate the unique properties of water. The unusual striations found throughout Michael’s castings capture the cavern like crevasse exposed within a productive reef. We are proud to offer an exhibition of exploring and discovering SOLID THOUGHTS by Michael Behrens. - Corey Hampson, Habatat Galleries
Seaforms 234 - 2017
14.75 x 18 x 4.5� - Kiln cast glass
6
20 x 15.5 x 4.75� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 241 - 2017
7
Seaforms 225 - 2017
21 x 9.5 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass
8
28.75 x 14 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 212 - 2016
9
Seaforms 226 - 2017
14.75 x 11 x 3.75� - Kiln cast glass
10
14.25 x 15 x 4.75� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 231 - 2017
11
Seaforms 154 - 2015
15.75 x 15 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass
12
14 x 18.5 x 4� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 180 - 2015
13
Seaforms 251 - 2017
32 x 12.25 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass
14
26 x 16.5 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 122 - 2014
15
Seaforms 75 - 2013
13.5 x 12 x 3� - Kiln cast glass
16
26.5 x 15.75 x 6� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 205 - 2016
17
Seaforms 196 - 2016
16.25 x 11.5 x 4� - Kiln cast glass
18
25 x 14 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 166 - 2015
19
Seaforms 120 - 2014
42.5 x 21 x 7� - Kiln cast glass
20
63 x 30.5 x 8� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 175 - 2015
21
Seaforms 137 - 2015
18.5 x 14.5 x 4.5� - Kiln cast glass
22
26 x 13 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 96 - 2013
23
Seaforms 99 - 2014
48 x 23 x 7� - Kiln cast glass
24
27.5 x 17 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 128 - 2014
25
Seaforms 56 - 2012
32.5 x 31.5 x 7� - Kiln cast glass
26
28.75 x 11 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 181 - 2015
27
Seaforms 18 - 2011
28.75 x 14.5 x 5� - Kiln cast glass
28
38.5 x 18.5 x 7� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 19 - 2011
29
“I began working with glass in 2002 and have always been inspired by nature; I was especially fascinated by the underwater world. Over the years, the perception of the world through water led me to become heavily involved with the study of shape and content. The translucent structures and surfaces I envision transform to vibrant and alluring solid forms. During this process, it is essential to imagine the model I create as if it were transparent. The final sculpture has now become part of the environment.� - Michael Behrens, 2017
53 x 23 x 7� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 129 - 2014
31
Seaforms 90 - 2013
21 x 16 x 5.5” - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 92 - 2013
20 x 16 x 5” - Kiln cast glass
32
19.5 x 15.75 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 252 - 2017
33
24 x 11 x 5.25� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 245 - 2017
35
Seaforms 121 - 2014
18.5 x 9.5 x 4.5” - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 113 - 2014
15.5 x 9.5 x 4.5” - Kiln cast glass
36
25 x 14 x 5.5� - Kiln cast glass
Seaforms 108 - 2014
37
Landscapes In his wall objects, Behrens preserves the ceaseless framing of landscapes through rivers, lakes and seas - almost like a snapshot. The Everglades in Florida, an Australian Salt Lake, the Nasser reservoir in Egypt, the South-Asian Ganges delta: Water becomes form. The technical realization is thereby as complex as the image itself. In the furnace, a plate made of optical glass is lowered over a plastically structured surface. After cooling down, the negative relief emerging on the underside of the plate is silver-plated. The landscape structures based on satellite images are abstracted and while using the technique of sandblasting, they are incorporated in the surface of a glass panel whose surface is colored in light transparent tones. Consisting of three differently pre-processed layers, the wall objects are of a stimulating complexity, their dynamic plasticity being amplified by the reflection of light and environment.
31 x 63 x 2� - Kiln cast glass
Landscapes 22 - 2013
39
Landscapes 14 - 2012
31.5 x 23.75 x 2� - Kiln cast glass
40
31.5 x 23.75 x 2� - Kiln cast glass
Landscapes 13 - 2012
41
Landscapes 17 - 2012
51 x 31 x 2� - Kiln cast glass
42
57 x 71 x 2� - Kiln cast glass
Landscapes 24 - 2013
43
Landscapes 16 - 2012
51 x 31 x 2� - Kiln cast glass
44
71 x 28 x 2� - Kiln cast glass
Landscapes 25 - 2013
45
Landscapes 12 - 2012
63 x 31 x 2� - Kiln cast glass
46
27.75 x 45.5 x 1.75� - Kiln cast glass
Landscapes 05 - 2012
47
Landscapes 19 - 2012
47.5 x 31.5 x 1.75� - Kiln cast glass
48
31.5 x 47.5 x 2� - Kiln cast glass
Landscapes 20 - 2012
49
72 x 34 x 8� - Kiln cast glass (detail also pictured on both covers)
Seaforms 208 - 2016
51