Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Wanda Shum



Wanda Shum is a B.C. grown artist trained in Electronic Communication Design at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design. She has been an independent artist for over ten years with a variety of works to her name. All her work embodies an attention to detail in form and function. Whether it's hand painted clothing, jewellery or home decor, Wanda's works are recognized for their bright and whimsical qualities. Currently, she's working with polymer clays in a technique called 'millefiori'. 'Millefiori' or 'A Thousand Flowers' is a traditional Venetian glass art that involves the formation of a cane-like sculpture with fused glass rods that has a pattern throughout. The modern version of this is created by laying different coloured polymer clays together and rolling them out. The resulting roll or cane is sliced to reveal the design within. Wanda describes 'millefiori' as a combination of painting and sculpting. This technique allows her to create unique limited edition designs of objects (she has created a few exclusive designs for the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature, and the Canola Council of Canada). More recently, she has created a line of home decor which features items such as teapots, winestoppers, and glassware. Wanda's latest body of work has moved beyond the framework of form and function into the distinct realm of collectible art pieces.