"My work begins where that of polymer processors stop," says Regine Haunschmidt. The Austrian artist heats up ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) to the point where bubbles form in the material, thus giving her work the appearance of bubbling champagne. "These bubbles are absolutely unwanted in plastic processing," says the 52-year-old. "Acrylic glass should normally be as immaculate as possible." (*ACRYLITE® acrylic sheet is sometimes referred to as acrylic glass. Acrylic Glass is a generic term used to describe acrylic PMMA)
And if anyone knows this, it is Haunschmidt. She first came into contact with acrylic over 20 years ago while working as a graphic designer for a polymer processor. She has been fascinated by the material ever since. "It is unbelievably transparent while simultaneously adding a touch of warmth and elegance," explains Haunschmidt. "My main inspiration, however, are the diverse processing options, as I like working with my hands."
She was able to explore these options first hand on leftover materials while working at the company on weekends. She heated these parts until they slowly began to melt and bubbles began to form. She cut parts, molded them, experimented with fluorescent materials, and combined transparent pieces with light.
The acrylic glass cooker
Regine Haunschmidt describes herself as an "acrylic glass cooker", but she does more than simply heat up the material. "I work with acrylic glass; I sculpt, bend, laser, cut, and melt it. Acrylic glass* is a fantastic material and the ideas and options for processing it are by no means exhausted."
"I discovered just how well ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) can be combined with light: The light-conducting properties bring objects to life and turn them into a focal point of the room," says Haunschmidt. This was a seminal moment for the artist, who is now self-employed and creates small and large light sculptures in her atelier, "Azur – Kunst & Technik". Since early 2018, her portfolio even includes illuminated speakers, which she has developed herself.
"I use ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) because I need a high-quality starting material for my work."
- Regine Haunschmidt
Artist
In her work, Haunschmidt exclusively uses ACRYLITE®, the brand acrylic from Roehm America LLC. "The reason is simple. It’s because I need a high-quality starting material for my work," she explains. "For example, I need a material that can conduct light even through a sculpture that is two meters tall."
Additionally, the material must be completely transparent. "Other transparent polymers often seem completely transparent at first glance, but when they are illuminated, they often suddenly appear cloudy," Haunschmidt says. ACRYLITE® acrylic, or polymethyl methacrylate to give it its correct chemical name, is completely colorless in its pure form.
All light sculptures are crafted in her atelier in Altlengbach, 25 miles west of Vienna. "I begin by developing an idea. How many bubbles is the artwork supposed to have? What form should the sculpture take? Should there be sections, or special shapes?" says Haunschmidt.
A processor uses a laser to bring the ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) sheet into the right shape. The material is then placed in a water bath for two to three weeks, which enables additional water to penetrate the material. "This step is necessary for more bubbles to form in the material when it is heated," explains Haunschmidt. "It is also a very unusual way of processing acrylic, as the material would usually be tempered to avoid bubbles forming."
The artist heats the ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) with infrared heaters for a specific period of time, depending on the number of bubbles the finished artwork is supposed to have. "Based on the experience I have gained over the past 20 years, I now know pretty well how long I need to heat up the material," Haunschmidt says.
While the material cools, she molds it into the desired shape using weights. Several hours pass before a light sculpture is complete and Haunschmidt cannot take a break in that time. "The bubbles only form when the heat is applied constantly, and the material can only be molded while it is still warm." After the sculpture has cooled, it is polished and sanded.
The result is colorless and interspersed with bubbles. The pieces of art only become colorful when illuminated using RGB LEDs in the base. Theoretically, these LEDs allow for up to 16 million colors. Haunschmidt’s favorite color is blue, which is also where the name of her atelier Azur comes from. Blue like the sky, or the water she uses to turn ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) into art.
