Provenza (Blue) 

Lino Tagliapietra's 'Provenza (Blue)' presents a striking form in glass, dominated by a deep, oceanic blue. Its ovoid body, tapering to a delicate neck, is enveloped in swirling, vertical striations that draw the eye upward, creating a sense of fluid movement. The piece is bisected by a vertical aperture, revealing a dense network of horizontal lines beneath the surface, an interplay of contrasting textures and directional forces. This juxtaposition invites a semiotic reading: the outer layer of blue evokes calmness, while the inner striations suggest hidden depths. Tagliapietra destabilizes the traditional notion of glass as a purely functional or decorative object. Instead, he uses its transparency and malleability to explore themes of containment and exposure, surface and depth. The artwork challenges us to consider how form can embody and communicate complex, layered meanings.