Japanese artist Mika Aoki embraces the dichotomous nature of glass’s solidity yet fragility. She says of the translucent material: “Unless light shines on it, we can’t confirm the existence of it because it is transparent. But once the light shines on it, glass truly emanates a special presence.” In her series of works titled Singing Glass, the artist presents glass morphed into amoebic and otherworldly forms that leaves the viewer mesmerized. In any other medium, the pieces would lose their intrigue.
Looking through the sculptor’s portfolio, there is a surreal mix of science gone awry and fairy tale-like icy enchantment. In a number of her works, there are glass creatures and abstract figures encased within glass containers, like lab experiments. Because of the dual layers of clear elements, some of the structures within actually look like more like water bubbles. The other pieces that are not trapped within clear encasements, they echo the luminosity and sharp crystallization of ice.
You know what’s truly sickening about this particular scene? This dress (before the mice gave it a makeover) originally belonged to her deceased mother. Cinderella hardly has any personal possessions due to the greed of her stepmother and stepsisters. So, I assume that this dress meant quite a lot to her as a reminder of a simpler and happier time in her life. It symbolizes a fresh start and a chance at a better life for her. It must have been traumatizing to see her dreams just destroyed, literally ripped from her, torn to shreds. Not to mention, they verbally abuse her calling her a “thief” and a “kitchen wench”. In the end when Cinderella is standing alone in rags, it’s animated so beautifully because you can feel this weight and this sense of hopelessness. Cinderella’s a girl who even said herself that no one could take away her dreams. But in this scene, you can see she’s giving up.
That’s why it is so important that Cinderella gets her happily ever after. Her Fairy Godmother is a symbol of faith and perseverance in hard times. After all, “Even miracles take a little time.”
