Sample gradient from VASA's
sculptures

Description of the process and the work

All of Vasa's sculpture is made out of cast acrylic plastic, commonly known as Plexiglas. Industrially made cast acrylic has high optical qualities and comes in sheets of different thicknesses. The clear material comes in standard sheets that range from one sixteenth of an inch to four inches thick and the transparent colors come in sheets one eighth to a quarter inch thick. Because of the unusual shades Vasa uses in his works, many colors are custom made for him.

To construct the sculptures, the clear and colored materials are cut into different sized pieces and laminated with polymerized glue. By sandwiching colors between clear plastic or enveloping clear plastic with colors, usually one eighth of an inch thick, works often appear to be made of solid transparent colors in spite of being 90% or more clear. After the materials are laminated they are machined and polished to high precision optical surfaces.

Simple geometric shapes of clear acrylic are used as containers for additive mixing of transparent complex visually structural planes, which are reflected on the inside walls of those shapes, and multiply by overlapping effects. Observing the work can be very deceiving since sometimes it seems that you can see through the sculpture when in actuality you are seeing reflections of seeing through. To fully appreciate these works it is essential to be able to observe them from different angles since they are three dimensional and have ever changing appearances.

The following critical comments reflect Vasa's ability to combine advanced technology and artistic skill:

"Vasa works in blocks, spheres, and columns of Plexiglas, which appears in his hands to be the purest most lucent and radiant material ever produced by man or nature. These blocks, spheres, and columns are full of color." Alfred Frankenstein, San Francisco Chronicle

"As we move around the works, we are presented with a constantly changing vertical pattern of stripes, overlaps, transparencies and clear places. Anybody would admit they are artistically sophisticated and exquisitely crafted. But are they emotive, human? I think so. They possess the kind of optimistic charm we used to feel as kids when we stood enchanted before a huge apothecary jar full of green stuff. "

"Surfaces are flawless, color laminations absolutely seamless. What is new is harmonic simplification that allows technique to function aesthetically. The works are unrivaled as traps for ambient light. Whole plinths of plastic glow as if wired for electricity." William Wilson, Los Angeles Times

The breadth of the national and international placement and recognition of the artist's work can be viewed under the following headings:

One Person Exhibitions
Museum Collections
Corporate Collection
Corporate and Institutional Commissions


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