Break or bend is a glass artwork that Glass Artist Claudia Kuyken specially designed and created for the: MAKERS 2024 Prize organized by the municipality of Maldegem with the theme: Borderless. With this work, Claudia wants to indicate that you can break or (bend) or burst if you or others exceed your limits (border in Dutch). By standing up for yourself and guarding your personal boundaries, you make it clear that you will not be walked over.
Glass cannot withstand stress, which made this a complicated piece to make. We had to find out how far the threaded rods on both sides could be bent without creating tension on the glass and breaking the individual glass pieces. It was very exciting to make the work and also very frustrating when a piece of glass broke. The work also owes its name to this. Just like in society, a small difference can make a difference whether you break or bend.
Like many works of art that Claudia designs and makes, this glass work of art belongs in the World Collection.