3. Bubacco, born on Murano in 1957, began playing with glass as a boy, making small animals, beads,Bubacco, born on Murano in 1957, began playing with glass as a boy, making small animals, beads,
and the usual lampworker's tablet. At fifteen he received his artisan's license and began marketingand the usual lampworker's tablet. At fifteen he received his artisan's license and began marketing
flameworked Venetian memorabilia. His fascination with anatomy, equine and human, lured himflameworked Venetian memorabilia. His fascination with anatomy, equine and human, lured him
to push bit by bit beyond the perceived technical limits of his craft. His large free standingto push bit by bit beyond the perceived technical limits of his craft. His large free standing
sculpture, worked hot and annealed during the process, is unique in lampworking made fromsculpture, worked hot and annealed during the process, is unique in lampworking made from
flexible Murano soda glass canes, not less-breakable Pyrex. His pieces challenge our notion offlexible Murano soda glass canes, not less-breakable Pyrex. His pieces challenge our notion of
lampwork as a primarily decorative and whimsical, stressing as they do form and plasticity, ratherlampwork as a primarily decorative and whimsical, stressing as they do form and plasticity, rather
than detailed elaboration and/or narrative content presented as a mini-installation. Bubacco's recentthan detailed elaboration and/or narrative content presented as a mini-installation. Bubacco's recent
explorations with two dimensional inclusions in blown, solid off-hand and cast glass, burst forthexplorations with two dimensional inclusions in blown, solid off-hand and cast glass, burst forth
into three dimensional glory, or are highlighted by cold working through and around the images, asinto three dimensional glory, or are highlighted by cold working through and around the images, as
he persists in his quest to create a living force in glass.he persists in his quest to create a living force in glass.
In 1980 he began studying anatomical drawing with the Venetian artist Alessandro Rossi. His styleIn 1980 he began studying anatomical drawing with the Venetian artist Alessandro Rossi. His style
takes on a new dimension: the movement of the figure becomes the central theme of his work. Histakes on a new dimension: the movement of the figure becomes the central theme of his work. His
masterpieces are crafted in Murano glass, also called "soft glass" because of its high soda content,masterpieces are crafted in Murano glass, also called "soft glass" because of its high soda content,
which is famous for its characteristic brightness and ideal for the “Lume” process. His technicalwhich is famous for its characteristic brightness and ideal for the “Lume” process. His technical
experience and knowledge of glass color compatibility allow him to create unique works: figuresexperience and knowledge of glass color compatibility allow him to create unique works: figures
entirely hand-formed and incorporated in blown-vases or in casting. His works transcend traditionalentirely hand-formed and incorporated in blown-vases or in casting. His works transcend traditional
uses and conceptions of the "lume" technique. They collocate motive tensions and plasticity in auses and conceptions of the "lume" technique. They collocate motive tensions and plasticity in a
context of narrative surrealism, to create highly original pieces derived from his personal sensibility.context of narrative surrealism, to create highly original pieces derived from his personal sensibility.
Lucio Bubacco's sensuous works combine the anatomic perfection of Greek sculpture with theLucio Bubacco's sensuous works combine the anatomic perfection of Greek sculpture with the
Byzantine gothic architecture of his native Venice. Seductive themes, metamorphosis andByzantine gothic architecture of his native Venice. Seductive themes, metamorphosis and
transformation, forms emerging from the void, echo themes from our mythological past whentransformation, forms emerging from the void, echo themes from our mythological past when
sexuality was spiritual, not political.sexuality was spiritual, not political.
