Opposites Attract – National Museum of Glass Leerdam – Opening December 10th
Melvin’s objects are sold and put on display all over the world. For the first time in Melvin’s career as a glass designer, spanning over a decade, the Dutch National Museum of Glass in Leerdam focuses on his designs, presenting Opposites Attract, opening December 10th 2011. (www.nationaalglasmuseum.nl)
Opposites are omnipresent in the life and work of the artist. Hailing from the Caribbean, with roots in St. Vincent and Aruba, his studies made Melvin move to The Netherlands at a young age. When asked about his identity he states to be both European and Caribbean. This clearly shows in his works, ranging from natural and organic –possibly referring to his African heritage – to transparent objects, full of contrast and of near-architectonic or sculptural quality. Style references to fashion, design and a cosmopolitan life are found throughout his small collections of unique objects.
Opposites Attract unveils Melvin’s life story through these very objects. The fire serves as a starting point and a metaphore for his passion and inspiration. Drawn from it are works deriving their decorative appeal from burn marks. Their beauty lies in their imperfect shapes and warm colour palate from amber to mahogany and the deepest brown. An exuberant translation of Anderson’s previous life as a fabrics designer are his seductively shining and transparent works in black and white, presented in a metropolitan context and urban landscape, indicating all the places where his works found a new home with its avid collectors.