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A scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST
The Glasshouse is pictured at the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit in Seattle, Washington, May 16, 2012. Pioneering glass artist Dale Chihuly, whose work has been shown in over 200 museum collections worldwide, will be honored in his home city Seattle when 'Chihuly Garden and Glass' opens May 21, offering the most comprehensive collection of his work ever assembled.

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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A scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST
A visitor to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit views the Chandeliers display by artist Dale Chihuly in Seattle, Washington.

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A scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST

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

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A scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST

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

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A scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST
Visitors to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit view the Northwest Room by artist Dale Chihuly in Seattle, Washington.

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A scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST

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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A scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST
A glass sculpture by artist Dale Chihuly is on display at the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit in Seattle, Washington

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A scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST

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 scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST
The Seattle Sun by artist Dale Chihuly is on display at the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit in Seattle, Washington.

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A scintillating garden of glass

Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST

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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Last updated on: May 22, 2012 11:20 IST

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