Takeda ───── I would like to introduce four Silver Prize winners. The first work, the third highest scored work, is “My Parallel Biology” by DAM Steffen (Denmark). It was awarded the Silver Prize by a narrow margin. I would like Professor Yokoyama to comment on the work.

Yokoyama ───── The work is made up of many cylinders. In each cylinder are unfamiliar creatures floating, making the work a little mysterious. Unlike specimens in a science room, these creatures look rather sophisticated and artistic although the motif comes from marine creatures such as jellyfish. What enables to create such a work are his inimitable techniques and aesthetic feeling. It is an excellent work.

Takeda ───── Next, I would like Professor Laursen to make a comment on “Thread Is Connected” by ITO Machiko (Japan).

Laursen ───── The Silver Prize goes to a work that is very appropriate has a silver-like glow. The title of this work is “Thread Is Connected”. And the work is constructed of industrial glass fibers that are melted and blown through the nozzles and stretched. Glass fibers are used for many purposes in modern technology including communications technology. They help to connect people, places, and all the artists together overcoming the boundaries of time and space.

The artist has created a wonderful and playful sculpture and her great skill combined modern material with rococo-like forms and a sense of abundance and luxury.

But at the same time, the work tells us, as I said before, about our confusing lives in modern society.

The Silver Prize is well-deserved for this sculpture which is very much work of our own time.

On the fact sheet about the work, I noticed the mail address of the artist, which is “only for the mind strong” gmail.com. I like that a lot. It goes well with the work and the Silver Prize.

Takeda ───── The third Silver Prize winner, “Sunset in the Wave” by KIM Joon Yong (Korea), will be commented on by Professor Yokoyama.

Yokoyama ───── At a glance, it looks like a vessel. However, it is a strong and sculpturesque work with bold and rough finishing. Tender green gradation goes well with the texture of the surface. I was charmed by this work.

Takeda ───── Professor Carlson, please comment on the last
Silver Prize winner, “Fountain” by ISOGAI Akihiro (Japan).

Carlson ───── You can see by the quality of the work that we have selected quite a wonderful representation of glass art.This Silver Prize winner is rather minimal interpretation of glass, less about complicated form and more about focus on singular event.That simplicity gives it heroic sense of scale and even though it is not a large piece, it has a large meaning with its open space and ability to view the entire piece in a contemplative glance.

So Is it a metaphor for the world? Is it a metaphor for one individual? Is it contemplating shared space that we share with all existents? I am not sure, but it is all of those things that captured me.

Takeda ─────We would like to move onto the six Honorable Mention winning works. First, I would like Professor Carlson to talk about “The Way of the Moon-IV/2013” by SHIBUYA Ryoji (Japan).

Carlson ─────Now we move on with the selections. You can see the quite large difference from the last one I talked about to this one. This is called “The Road to the Moon.” I have not been to the moon, but this must be the way it looks. With this piece we are looking at an engineering project in a way, a bit of architecture, a place that gives us protection or gives us direction.

Many of the works that we saw and we enjoyed are simple elegance of a material and this has structure as its purpose and as its artistic meaning.