In PHOTOS: A scintillating garden of glass

A museum dedicated to renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly opened on Monday at the foot of Seattle's iconic Space Needle.

From the beginning of his involvement with glass in the 1960s, Chihuly championed the use of blown glass as a vehicle for sculpture, focussing on the vessel in his explorations of colour and form. Setting aside complex techniques in favour of letting the hot glass naturally find its own shape, he has produced work that is characterised by its large, gravity-influenced forms and minimal tooling as much as by its striking palette of colours.

'Chihuly Garden and Glass' features an exhibition hall with eight galleries spanning 70-year-old Chihuly's career, and a garden that serves as a backdrop for a giant orb of orange and orange curls titled 'Seattle Sun'

Rediff.com is giving you a sneak preview of Chihuly's works on display.

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Visitors to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit view the Sealife Room by artist Dale Chihuly in Seattle, Washington.

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A visitor to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit views the Persian Ceiling by artist Dale Chihuly in Seattle, Washington

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The Mille Fiori garden of glass display by artist Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit in Seattle, Washington

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The Ikebana and Float Boat display by artist Dale Chihuly at the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit in Seattle, Washington

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A gallery assistant poses with Seattle-based sculptor Dale Chihuly's work Cranberry and Clear Chandelier at the new Halycon Gallery on New Bond Street in London November 29, 2011

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