Glass: the Life and Art of Klaus Moje

Book excerpt: 'It is always based on what I see, what is touching me.' For more than fifty years, Klaus Moje devoted his life to the art of glass. He called it the 'most seductive' medium, and in his hands it had the power to delight and amaze collectors around the world. His lifetime's work changed the practice and appreciation of contemporary glass. Moje's philosophy of 'working into the hopeful' and his passion for the colour and geometry he saw in the natural world shone through his kilnformed glass works, a technique he pioneered. Moje was both artist and educator. After an apprenticeship in his father's small glass-cutting and glass-grinding business and a masters degree at the Glasfachschule Hadamar, Moje established his Hamburg studio. In 1982, he moved to Australia to set up the Glass Workshop at the Canberra School of Art, one of the most successful glass education programs in the world. Following 10 years teaching, Moje returned to full-time studio work. His life and art inspired many who chose to work with this medium. In Glass: The life and art of Klaus Moje, art historian Nola Anderson celebrates the creativity and artistic spirit of this remarkable artist.