“A Natural Language” continues my fascination with patterns and rhythms of the natural world. Made during a 4 week residency at Soneva Art and Glass, the exhibition has grown from the immersive experience of Kunfunadhoo Island, its sea, sky and land. It is an environment that is dynamic, turbulent, fecund, beautiful and peaceful - a rich environment from which to draw inspiration.” - Clare Belfrage, 2024

Belfrage uses canes to draw on the surface of glass and employs repetition and layering of these threads to map the rhythms and patterns of the natural world. She does so while preserving the tactile evidence of hand in each sculpture. Transitioning from decorative vessels to sculptural forms where pattern and form are inseparably linked, Belfrage’s work began to embody a deeper integration of design and structure. Her work reveals her observations of the world - the pulse of life in nature, the minutiae of plantlife and the quiet transformation wrought on rock, bark, water and sand by the passage of time. In a world where our connection to nature is becoming increasingly vital, Belfrage’s work opens a window for us to gaze at the natural realm, introducing a novel way of seeing and relating to it. At Soneva Art & Glass, Belfrage embraces the opportunity to create using recycled glass. It is her second residency at the recycled glass studio, located in Maldives, on a lush and tropical island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Supported by excellent facilities and an incredible team, the residency provides a platform to express her craft and commitment to sustainable practices. Soneva Art & Glass, Belfrage’s approach to recycled glass is both eager and adaptive. Following the success of her well-received exhibition, ‘A Natural Language,’ her second show at the Soneva Art & Glass gallery is now open.