LAYERED GLASS ARTWORK

In the newly created Riga East University Hospital chemotherapy Center stands an airy and functional work of art, a composition of two diptychs, offering a non-intrusive haven to those on the challenging cancer treatment path. "Between the Lines" is an artistic meditation on the fragility of life, the subtlety of strength and the deep connections between different life stories. It is a dedication to body and soul, patients and staff. 

 

"Between the Lines" is a series of four sculptural modules arranged in pairs and strategically placed to separate the patient and reception area seamlessly. Each module is carefully designed to achieve aesthetic lightness and purposeful design. While receiving chemotherapy sessions, the artwork transforms from a space divider to a source of introspection and inspiration for the patients. "Between the Lines" is a combination of muted minimalism and functionality. The ability of the artwork to adapt to the surrounding light provides a peaceful atmosphere, giving the room an unobtrusive breath of freshness and life. 

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The structure of each module is carefully balanced. The choice of a rectangular shape in the work of art, "Between the Lines", has a deliberate and thoughtful meaning. By their nature, rectangles are stable and balanced, unlike more organic or asymmetrical shapes. In the context of the medical centre, where patients are trying to find new ways of being amid the complex twists and turns of illness, the rectangle offers a sense of order and a firm foundation. It represents a person's ability to find inspiration and live on while facing the most significant challenges.

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Furthermore, rectangles are universal symbols of borders and frames. In the context of medical staff, these boundaries can be interpreted as representing patients' narratives and individual feelings within a specific time space. The framed stacks of glass in the transparent glass domes serve as a symbolic window into these personal stories, inviting us to listen and simultaneously reminding us how much happens between the lines. The clean rectangular lines resonate with the minimalist and modern aesthetic of the artwork, designed in harmony with the overall environment of the room. This simplicity allows one to focus on the interplay of light and shadow in the layers of glass, encouraging meditative and philosophical introspection. 

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The lower part is made of warm, light brown wood, which radiates a sense of grounding and comfort, matching the finish of the rest of the room's elements. The glass composition in the upper part gives the work an ethereal quality. Its outermost layer is made of crystal-clear glass to achieve the most excellent possible transparency while protecting the inner composition from dust and facilitating daily care. The glass composition is a dance of ambient light, glass colours, and shapes. 

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There are eight levels in each glass composition, with minor stack etudes arranged on an intermediate layer at each level. While the intermediate layers are made of selective glass with a light mirror effect, the levels are separated by museum glass, which is practically invisible. Stack etudes, on the other hand, are hand-cut, thoughtful, and harmoniously arranged compositions. The craftsmanship ensures that these stacks fill the room with a quiet glow when softly lit. They are made of selective glass with a nano-coating of more than ten different precious metals, which, in various proportions, reflect bronze, violet, green, or bluish colours. The levels of glass in each dome symbolise the levels of emotion, experience, and power experienced by the patients. The composition invites one to reflect on the different layers of feelings within oneself while reviving in the serenity of this work of art. The dominant light green, violet, and blue colours create a feeling of peace. As the ambient light filters through the layers of glass, there is a sense of movement and transformation. 

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The artwork is designed to serve as a transformative resource, making the clinical environment more encouraging. "Between the Lines" is like a philosophical cornerstone, exuding the collective courage and resilience found in the clinical setting and reminding us that strength often lies in individual relationships. Mutual respect, empathy, understanding, and trust between people are the most potent forces that resonate between the lines, potentially creating change on all levels — physical, mental, and spiritual.