With the artist Pascal Convert (work in progress) Saint-Gildas-des-Bois Basilica – Loire-Atlantique

The creation of contemporary stained glass windows : “The process of realization for these 14 stained glass windows is quite unique. Each window is inspired by photographs of children which are re-created in clay using traditional sculpture bas-relief techniques.

A plaster-cast is made from these clay models which is used to form a heat-resistant mould. The stained glass is then poured over this, using slumping.” Pascal Convert

verre, la construction de maquettes à échelle réelle. Sur de grands panneaux de bois, des bandes de scotch noir patiemment positionnées pré-figurèrent l’emplacement des plombs et des barlotières dont les lignes donneront leur forme aux futurs vitraux. C’est aussi à cette extension du champ d’application technique que le verrier dût apporter ses soins, faisant preuve de sa maîtrise aussi bien pour les esquisses préparatoires que pour l’exécution finale.

LE MATÉRIAU /
For light to issue from the glass itself and not come directly from the sun, the glass used at Conques is not transparent, but translucent. The diffused quality of light transmission isolates the space within the basilica, cutting it off from the outside world, giving rise to inner reflection. Externally, they blend with the stone whose chromatic uniformity is not disrupted by the mottled glass.

Specially created in a laboratory using granulation technique, differing levels of crystalisation throughout the glass create nuances of diffused light. Each sheet of glass is approximately 8 millimeters thick.