ARTIST Alena Matejkova has shattered records by creating the world's largest piece of kiln-formed glass.
Weighing 30kg and measuring 1.4 metres by 1.8 metres, Alena's Magic Carpet atrwork surpasses anything produced before.
The piece, which dominates the entrance to the National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, was unveiled yesterday.
The piece was formed in western Europe's largest kiln, at Sunderland University's glass department, at the National Glass Centre.
Ms Matejkova has spent the past three weeks on tenterhooks, unsure whether the artwork would come out in one piece.
Ms Matejkova, from the Czech Republic, has won awards in Italy, Denmark and her home country.
She was influenced in creating Magic Carpet by some of the UK's ancient stones and gravestones.
She has produced smaller versions that will be kept at the university, while the original will be exhibited around the world. It will eventually be shown at an exposition in Aichi, Japan, next year.
Sylva Petrova, professor in glass at the university, was instrumental in bringing the kiln and Ms Matejkova to Sunderland.
She said: "A kiln of this size has never been used in the UK before. This is a unique experience for UK artists."
Published: 07/02/2004
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