Special thanks go to the Pentagram Foundation, whose support enabled Annette Douglas to immerse herself in the world of glass in Venice during a residency in summer 2023. Particular thanks are extended to Matteo Seguso, who generously entrusted her with working on his grinding and engraving machines in Murano. Further appreciation goes to Vetreria Artistica Stefano Mattiello and its team, who produced the glass blanks in the hot shop.

Venice is both a magical and surreal place. The unique light of the lagoon, the shifting colours of the water and the long tradition of glassmaking shape the city’s atmosphere. Inspired by this environment, the collection “Laguna” was created — a tribute to Venetian glass craftsmanship and to the openness Annette Douglas experienced in Murano. Central to the work is the Venetian Incalmo technique, a highly demanding process that joins differently coloured glass elements. It symbolises the transition between land and sea — from density to transparency. The colour stories “Quarzo” (stone grey) and “Smeraldo” (lagoon green) reflect this landscape. Freely blown forms explore proportions between solidity and lightness, echoing the calm character of the lagoon.

Using the Inciso technique, the works capture the play of light on water. Engraved cuts refract light and create reflections reminiscent of moving waves. While the blown glass demonstrates technical precision, the engraving introduces a subtle irregularity — a deliberate artistic intervention that connects closely to Annette Douglas’ textile practice, rooted in structure and repetition.

The works unite Murano craftsmanship with the atmosphere of the Venetian lagoon and were realised in close collaboration with local glass masters.

In September 2024, “Laguna” was selected by the jury of The Venice Glass Week for exhibition at Palazzo Loredan in Venice.

^{Hotglass free blown, Engraving, dimensions 20cm - 30cm}