Regina Coupar - Mosaics, Raku

I began formal university study after turning forty (Mount Saint Vincent 1998). This initial degree whetted my appetite for more; at age fifty I pursued a Master’s degree, examining specifically the relationship between creative and spiritual experience  (Atlantic School of Theology 2009). The completion of this degree led me to Italy where I learned mosaic making and glass recipes of fourth-century Byzantine makers. This process formed the the central content of my arts-based doctoral thesis  (University of Toronto 2014). My present work adapts these ancient techniques to a wide variety of themes.

The evolution of an art practice takes a life time. I have dipped into several media over the years; each time is like learning a new language of expression.

I have come to see mosaic creation as a microcosm of life, borrowing from the quantum idea of physical reality. Separate bits (mosaic tessera) are taken from different sources and put together in unique and beautiful ways. The combinations are practically infinite! The content of each image is a visual record of a particular problem or exploration.

My raku pieces celebrate the human form. The torsos are from a series called Woman as Vessel. They are shaped from the inside illustrating the relationship between our inner and outer selves. The other pieces are from a study of Ancient Greek goddesses.