Craft and Culture: Dale Chihuly's vibrant glass sculptures for all to admire at Chelsea Barracks, London

Celebrated American glass sculptor Dale Chihuly has garnered acclaim throughout his 60-year career for his groundbreaking and expansive installations. Renowned for his ability to redefine the boundaries of glass as an artistic medium, Chihuly's creations often evoke organic forms with their intricate and vibrant designs.  

Within the meticulously landscaped gardens of Chelsea Barracks is Chihuly's the pièce de résistance, the "Electric Yellow and Deep Coral Tower," offset against the greenery and giant glass balls.

During London Craft Week 2024, May 13 - 19 2024, the general public with great interest in crafts has the opportunity to admire a selection of Chihuly's works in bright and cheerful colours sited within the lush outdoor grounds of the upmarket residential development, Chelsea Barracks, in the heart of Belgravia, London, just moments away from the River Thames. 

"Amethyrst Reeds, 2004! by Dale Chihuly is presented in deep hues of violet and vivid magenta atop logs of raw wood to incorporate an element of contrast between the tall, sleek stalks of glass and the rough grain of wood, set within the water feature of Mulberry Square.

These installations, characterized by their exploration of form, light, and space through the medium of glass, are created in deep amethyst, aqua blue and amber, or striking hues of electric yellow and orange, crafted from blown glass and supported by steel, providing striking contrast while harmonizing with their surroundings.

Curated by New Public, this latest project at Chelsea Barracks aligns with the development's ethos of seamlessly blending modern architecture with the site's rich historical heritage. 

Visitors entering Chelsea Barracks from Chelsea Bridge Road are welcomed by Chihuly's "Amethyst Reeds, 2024".

Among the highlights are three of Chihuly's works situated in Mulberry Square, including the  "Amethyst Reeds, 2024", which greets passersby along Chelsea Bridge Road.  According to descriptions accessible through a QR link, Reeds made their debut during the ground-breaking 1995-96 Chihuly Over Venice project.  Reminiscent of the icicle forms common in his chandeliers and towers, Reeds is described as the most extreme expression of this elongated form, at up to three metres tall each.

Chihuly's Electric Yellow and Deep Coral Tower standing majestically amongst the greenery of the Mulberry Square garden at Chelsea Barracks.

Further within the meticulously landscaped gardens lies the pièce de résistance, the "Electric Yellow and Deep Coral Tower," a captivating creation dating back to 2017.  This soaring creation of upstretched tendrils in radiant yellow and coral hues of hand-blown glass forms affixed to a steel armature evokes flames and though, static, suggests a riot of writhing movement. This tower was previously sited at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore in 2021, and Chihuly at Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina, USA in 2018.

Another striking work is "Mulberry Square Fiori" (2024) or is it Mille Fiori, Italian for thousand flowers.  The arrangement of glass in various shapes add vibrancy to the lush green gardens, with the appearance of living forms.  According to descriptions, it captures the unrestrained vitality of a July garden in a tribute to Chihuly's beloved late mother, Viola, a master gardener and colour fanatic.

The "Aqua Blue and Amber (2011)" chandelier resting on a !"quad pod" suggests it is a heavy sculpture. 

Another of Chihuly's installations at Chelsea Barracks, the "Aqua Blue and Amber, 2011" chandelier supported by a !"quad pod" steel frame, commands attention in Whistler Square near the Pimlico Road entrance. Described as a cascade of glass combining long, trailing tendrils and bulbous, marine globes in cheery shades of blue, gold and citron, playful in both form and palette.  This had previously been sited in the US, in Desert Botanical Garden, in Phoenix, Arizona in 2021 and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden in 2012.

This particular piece draws parallels to Chihuly's celebrated installation at the historic Victoria and Albert Museum in Knightsbridge, London, titled "Chihuly: Reflections on Nature." It was originally showcased in a 2001 exhibition that featured several of Chihuly's iconic glass sculptures and is now suspended high and mighty from the domed ceiling of the V&A museum's atrium at its Cromwell Road entrance, captivating visitors to this day.

"Chihuly: Reflections on Nature"
at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

As for the transformation of Chelsea Barracks in Belgravia from its origins as a late 19th-century military barracks for the British Army into a luxurious residential enclave has been a journey marked by both historical reverence and modern reinvention. Despite initial controversies and opposition from various quarters regarding its redevelopment, the site has emerged as a testament to the seamless integration of heritage preservation and contemporary design, offering residents and visitors alike a glimpse into London's rich past and vibrant future.

All images by Lucia Carpio.