Hold this, roll this, sit here and blow slowly. If you are a fan of ‘Blown Away’, Netflix’s strangely compelling competitive glass blowing show, you may have thought, ‘That looks like fun, I’d like to try that.’ The onscreen glass artists, and the in-real-life glassblowers at Hot Glass Fiji in Korotogo make it look deceptively easy. As we discovered, there is a lot to think about and do when you get in front of a glass kiln yourself.
But creating your own bowl or vase is a fulfilling and unusual experience.
Hot Glass Fiji is on Korotogo’s Sunset Strip. You enter from the road, strolling past a carved balabala figure adorned with a spiky glass headdress, ascend a few steps and are greeted by the quiet hiss of the kiln and an open showroom, displaying the workshop’s famous glass and wood tanoas, handblown fruit, vegetables and coconuts, vases, bowls, lamps and other treasures.
The workshop shares the same space. You are welcome to sit and watch the team at work as they wield iron rods tipped with glass from table to kiln to workbench back to kiln, or you can try it yourself.
To do that, you will don an apron and gloves like oven mitts and follow the expert’s instructions. You can choose the colours and design you want (dappled or swirled) and then go to work. I needed a lot of instruction; my teenage daughter less so – clearly her hand-eye coordination is a bit better.
Hot Glass Fiji founder, Alice Hill exhibits in Suva and her work can be seen in several resorts and many local homes throughout Fiji. She’s committed to experimenting with form and her creations range from chandeliers and dramatic installations, to delicate renderings of ota fronds.
As for your own work, you’ll need to wait a couple of days for firing and cooling before you can pick it up (or have it shipped to your hotel). Having something so lovely—if in my case imperfect—in your home is a wonderful reminder of time spent in Korotogo.
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