Shé — The Serpent Year (蛇)
A story of transformation, renewal and the quiet power of nature.
Created for the Year of the Wood Snake, Shé — The Serpent Year explores transformation, renewal and the quiet strength found in change.
Traditional stained-glass techniques are combined with fused, painted and sculptural cast glass to create a richly layered, one-of-a-kind work.
Contemporary Glass by Jan Simpson
The story behind Shé
The Chinese Lunar Year of the Wood Snake began on 29 January 2025. Traditionally associated with wisdom, transformation and renewal, the snake became the starting point for a deeply personal piece about shedding the past and moving into a new phase of life.
The snake has long carried apparently opposing meanings: death and rebirth, danger and healing, concealment and revelation. For me, it became a symbol of change—of releasing what is no longer needed while carrying forward the experiences that have shaped us.
The surrounding natural forms suggest growth, resilience and the continuing rhythm of the living world. Light moves through the different layers of glass, revealing changing colours, surfaces and shadows throughout the day.
Every flicker of light tells a part of my story.
Glass, Surface and Form
Shé — The Serpent Year was created during the final year of my BA in Glass and Ceramics at UCA Farnham in 2025.
It was my first leaded panel to bring traditional hand-painted stained glass, kiln-fused glass and a three-dimensional kiln-cast element together within a single narrative composition.
The sculptural snake rises from the surface of the panel rather than remaining contained within its traditional two-dimensional plane. Painted detail, kiln-formed textures and the changing transparency of the glass create further layers that are revealed as the light moves across the work.
The completed glass was assembled using traditional leading techniques before being soldered, cemented and polished by hand.
Recognition
Shé — The Serpent Year was longlisted for the ArteVol 2025 contemporary art prize.
The work represents an important turning point in my practice, bringing together heritage stained-glass craftsmanship and the more sculptural approach to glass that developed during my degree.
A continuing Story
Shé — The Serpent Year is a one-of-a-kind studio work and is not currently offered for sale.
It remains an important piece within my personal collection and continues to inform the way I combine painted, fused and cast glass within contemporary stained-glass work.
