Sugar Work

~ Sugar Work / Sugar Sculpture ~

is the art of producing artistic centerpieces entirely composed of sugar and sugar derivatives. Sugar showpieces can be composed of several different types of sugar elements. All begin with cooking sugar, and possibly an acidic agent to avoid unwanted crystallization, to hard crack stage, around 160°C. 

Sugar Casting

In this technique, sugar is poured into molds. It produces more sturdy pieces than pulled and blown sugar and is almost always used for the base and structural elements of showpieces.

Blown Sugar

A portion of pulled sugar is placed on a rubber pump which is tipped with either wood or metal. Pumps are most commonly hand pumps. While being blown, the sugar can be shaped. Blown sugar cannot be quickly cooled by dipping it in water, so a fan is used to cool them, while rotating so it does not come out of shape. This technique is very useful in making balloons. 

Pulled Sugar 

Once the sugar has been cooked, the now-liquid sugar is poured onto a silicone rubber mat. The sugar is then folded repeatedly into itself, until the sugar is flexible and cool enough to handle. The sugar is then stretched out and then folded on itself repeatedly. This process incorporates air into the sugar and will gives a bright shine. The sugar can then be sculpted by hand into various shapes.

Straw Sugar

It is the creation of hollow tubes. It can be used to form twisted branches, vines, sea weed or grasses to support flowers, fish, birds or figurines.