CAIRO - Glass art is usually understood to refer to large modern works of art, typically one-off creations, which are substantially or wholly made of glass. Glass art is more likely to be exhibited in public spaces rather than in homes. By means of her first-ever exhibition, she's trying to let more Egyptians learn about this kind of art, which, she says, is rarely found in Egypt. "It's new in Egypt, but it has roots in decorative arts in Ancient Egypt," according to 30-year-old Yasmina Heidar, who is holding her exhibition, ‘Glass Sculptures', at the Gezira Art Centre, in the upmarket district of Zamalek. Heidar graduated in General Sculpture from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University in 2000, then obtained a specialised diploma in Ceramic Sculpture in 2002, followed by a Master's in Glass Sculpture Technology in 2005. She then studied at Carrara Academy of Fine Arts, Pisa University from 2006 to 2008 on a Fine Art joint research programme scholarship. Last year, she obtained a PhD with Distinction in Direct Glass Sculpture from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University, for her pioneer research work in this very specialised artistic field. Heidar has held various exhibitions and workshops in Egypt, Germany, Italy and Turkey, creating unique public glass sculptures in Egypt and Italy. She has been working as a lecturer in sculpture in the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University since 2009, having previously worked as a demonstrator and as a youth worker and trainer in the Euromed Youth Programme. Her colourful glass sculptures ��" many of them green ��" are sensual and spiritual abstract works, inspired by water and highlighting her love of nature, giving the viewer hope and a feeling of psychological comfort. "One of my sculptures is of a greencoloured wave being ridden by a black spherical object, whose beauty is highlighted by the contrast between the two colours. "Another sculpture is of a small hurricane and I also made a bigger hurricane in an open place in Alexandria," says Heidar, who has been appointed as a Deputy Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Art Centre.
