Glass sculpture captures darkness and light

Award-winning glass artist Lisa Cahill was commissioned to produce a crystal sculpture of the Rising Sun.

It will be 170cm wide and 80cm high, with 28 individually cast lead-crystal rays producing angular forms and light projections.

The Rising Sun sculpture will be an achievement in structural engineering, mounted on a totem, with each ray resting upon the next.

It will present a captivating installation that can be viewed from either side.

“The rays will be visible through each other, creating depth and shadows,” Ms Cahill said.

“The amber colour mimics the glow of the Rising Sun. Three-dimensional objects will pick up and reflect the surrounding natural light and act as a beacon as the viewer approaches from the darkness below.

“The textures will be reminiscent of the muddy fields and the surrounding terrain where the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux was fought.

“Minimal decoration allows the viewer to focus on the Rising Sun symbol and the solemnity of the occasion.”

Ms Cahill works across a variety of scale and techniques and her work ranges from kiln-formed and wheel-carved panels and sculptures to large public artworks.

She is a leader in the public art space and has a fulltime studio in Canberra. Her work is displayed in prestigious collections including the Canberra Glassworks, Palm Springs Art Museum in California, and the Ebeltoft Glass Museum in Denmark.

Ms Cahill said she was honoured to produce the glass sculpture for the Sir John Monash Centre which would be seen by so many Australians.

“I grew up in a family with a long association of service to the Army. I understand how important this memorial is to the families of those who served on the Western Front and keeping alive the memory of that sacrifice,” she said.