Jan Kocian brings unique techniques and experience to the New Zealand glass-blowing community. His hand-made works of art have been skillfully formed in the searing 1100ºc heat of the purpose-built kiln in his rustic Coromandel township studio. Jan blows and sculpts his glass actively, standing rather than sitting at a table, and uses a range of wooden blocks to smoothly shape blown pieces and purpose-built steel tools for sculpting. Captivated by glass and its form from the moment he watched a glowing vessel emerge from a blazing kiln, Jan has completed five years of formal study in traditional glass blowing in his native Czech Republic, then further developed his skills in various European studios.