''Each piece takes me about a month to complete and I work on about five or six pieces at any one time,'' he explained. ''But with the place plunging into darkness at irregular times, and the loss of electricity making some of the tools I use inoperable,preparing for this exhibition was not easy.'' But, having invested in a generator, uninterrupted creativity was assured, and the beautifully refined pieces of glass-art - bearing esoteric names such as Joyous Anticipation and Private Moments - are a testimony this painstaking skill.

Mind you, the power cuts were not completely bad news. One of his sculptures, which he accidently knocked over in his studio in the dark, chipped badly at the edges and had to be reshaped. Orlina thinks the new look it took on in the process was artistically better than before.

Orlina is best known in Asia for his Ning-Ning series - named after his second daughter, who provided the inspiration while being breast-fed by mum, Lay-Ann.

It consists of 30 sculptures modelled on the female breast, with the Sultan of Brunei being one of the keen customers.

Others who own Orlina's work include the warring widows, Imelda Marcos and Corazon Aquino, with the score of sculptures standing at 3-2 to Imelda. To balance things off, Philippine President Fidel Ramos recently took possession of his first piece of Orlina glassware.

Even while the 28 sculptures in the Hongkong show (until June 12), priced at between $12,000 to $80,000, were being mounted at the weekend in preparation for this evening's opening at the Grand Hyatt's mezzanine floor, hotel guests privileged to grab a sneak preview booked nearly all the pieces.

But Orlina is willing to take on extra commissions - power cuts permitting!