Synthia’s Closet is an immersive installation by Ione Thorkelsson exploring the cultural disquiet surrounding bioengineering and genetic manipulation. Featuring glowing cast glass spheres containing delicate organic and technological elements, the work serves as a metaphor for humanity’s intervention in natural processes.
Inspired by Craig Venter’s 2010 creation of synthetic life, the project examines themes of unease, technological overreach, and the shifting perception of what is fundamental and unchanging in the natural world. The installation merges found organic objects—bones, feathers, and other ephemeral materials—with LEDs, fiber optics, and micro-electronics, creating a conceptual and visual dialogue on the interplay between nature and technology.
Ione Thorkelsson is a trailblazer in Canadian glass art, with a career spanning nearly five decades. Initially self-taught in blown glass, she transitioned to casting techniques in the early 1990s, developing a distinct artistic vision that blends art and craft.
Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including notable exhibitions such as The Unwilling Bestiary (Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1998), Ossuary (Toronto, 2006), and A Natural History of Utopias (Waterloo, 2016). Thorkelsson’s accolades include induction into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2007 and the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts in 2010.
The artist is grateful for the support of The Canada Council for the Arts and the Manitoba Arts Council.