K'inan, Kira Phoenix
Studio 64, Delta House Studios
My work brings together fine art and craft through works on paper, inimitable glass sculptures, ephemeral installations and multi-exposure photography, which are sustainably and ethically produced in my London studio. Today my collections are known for their rich colour palette, dynamic lines that intertwist into one another and works that are in constant visual flux.
My love of art and creating began at an early age. I grew up in a vibrant community of artists on Lamma Island and would spend my weekends exploring the island where I developed a close connection to nature. Living on Lamma Island also allowed me to fully explore my own imagination, which came across in the stories I would tell and works I would create. The joy of storytelling has developed into the artwork I make, with each artwork series/project acting like a story's narrative with a beginning, middle and end.
In 2012 I took a once in a lifetime trip where I travelled on my own to Hong Kong, Bali, Singapore and Thailand. During this time I created a series of watercolour works on paper that explored colour washes and the strength of the line. Upon returning to the UK I applied to the Ceramics and Glass course at The Royal College of Art. During the masters course I developed a technique of translating my two-dimensional works on paper into three-dimensional glass sculptures known as the Relief Glass Drawing technique. This labour intensive, hands on process allowed me to experiment with surface textures by carving into plaster batts and combining different glass colours for a vivid outcome that responds to the natural light by creating shadows that dance on the walls or shift their tone depending on the type of light they sit in. Since 2020 I have been delving into colour explorations and colour mixing through the Glass Ishihara series and the colourful layers of the box framed Constructure series. Recently I have been combining sculpture with glass through the Superposition series and the delicate Palmately Netted Vein series.
My collections have grown organically through my studies and two residencies, one at Konstfack, Stockholm, Sweden and the other at Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland. I now design and create in my London based studio. I sell globally to a dedicated clientele spanning the UK, Scandinavia and USA. Each artwork now sits in loving homes or in commercial settings. I continue to exhibit globally with particular highlights being Bullseye glass competition Emerge Bullseye 2018, shortlisted for the Ashurst Emerging Artists Prize in 2019, a finalist for The Visual Arts Open 2020, London Craft Week 2022 and Decorex International 2022.
Links:
Email: kpkinan@gmail.com
Website: www.kpkinanglass.com
Instagram: @kpkinanglass