Starburst Bull Vessel - Theo Brooks

In Theo’s own words – I have a deep interest in archaeology and palaeontology, which stemmed from my Cypriot grandmother’s stories about Neolithic objects unearthed near her village when she was a child. This fascination with what lies beneath the surface of the earth, and the traces left by humans and other living creatures, has manifested as an exploration into marks and mark-making.

Doing so, however, is made difficult by my chosen medium, as hot glass cannot be touched directly. Marks left behind show traces of a life lived, whether scratches on fossils indicating a battle or the marks left on a 15th-century Venetian goblet — they present us with a moment encapsulated in time, and this idea completely fascinates me. In a consumerist culture like the one we find ourselves in today, marks and the human element are hidden from the objects we use. It seems as if nothing is eternal or meant to last, as we can upgrade and discard. Mark-making has become an integral part of my practice.

Another facet of Theo’s work is the incorporation of animals simultaneously with the vessel. Animals have been a rich source of inspiration throughout time, and different cultures have pulled from characteristics of many animals, in fear or awe of them. Theo hopes to reflect on the ways in which ancient cultures have idolised and associated these particular subjects with animals and use them in a way to communicate human feelings.