MADE BY FIRE PROJECT – TRIENNALE MILANO

Year of creation

2023

About project

MADE BY FIRE

17/04/2023–23/04/2023

Triennale Milano, Viale Alemagna 6, Milano, AREA 1A + AREA 1B / CURVA P1

The strength and fragility of Czech glass and porcelain in the fire test. The unique exhibition project of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, in cooperation with the Prague international design festival Designblok, presents the best of Czech glass, porcelain and ceramics against the backdrop of major social and environmental events of today.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF HAND-CRAFTED BOHEMIAN GLASS?

A project including 3 free objects created exclusively for the exhibition MADE BY FIRE in Milan 2023.

What is the future of traditional Czech glass brands? Can we sustain the handmade production of luxury crystal products?

Below are short texts about individual objects.

1) Moser vase with an engraving of a horse – A hand-engraved blown glass vase, produced by traditional craft processes by probably the best-known Czech glass company Moser and based on the aesthetics of the 18th and 19th centuries, I purposefully proceed to the next production process, which redesigns the vase and introduces additional, temporal even conceptually contrasting planes. I expose the finished object of the Moser vase, luxurious in its essence, to a spray of spray paint. The irregular dripping of the applied paint can no longer be completely predicted, and in relation to the historicizing manual decor, such a quick action of the spray can sometimes appear as iconoclastic. Saturated colors and their pigment structure take the previously cold cuts of discs on glass to a completely different dimension. Thanks to the colors, the engraving on the vase comes to life and breathes, becoming not only a craft but also a work of art.

2) An Egermann vase with high enamel and gold painting, supplemented with a kind of fairground mood (painted fairground gingerbreads with texts and sweet foam), colors, decoration, folklore, detail and perfectionism, romantic messages – the idea behind this object is “POWER IN SUGAR”. Even at first glance kitschy things that make us condemn them at that moment can have a hidden enormous value of craftsmanship and local tradition. This is exactly how I perceive vases decorated with high enamel and fairground gingerbread or similar “folk” objects and costumes.

3) Bohemia Crystal vase with traditional cut decor – a modified tradition of cut Czech crystal, by the natural growth process of borax crystals on a vase placed in a glass box (aquarium). Decorative glass with the characteristic Bohemia Crystal logo and probably the best-known PK500 cut decor is a characteristic example of Czech glassmaking of the last century. Vases, cups, swans and glasses that were not allowed to drink from. Today, the once polished gems are slowly covered by dust, and the pride of our ancestors becomes a nostalgic symbol showing the great craftsmanship of our master glassmakers.

Photos by Shotby_us.

The Made by Fire project thematizes the post-digital era, which on the one hand is represented by environmental strategies, and on the other hand, it is very difficult to balance the boundary between not very energy-intensive production, sustainability and functionality at the same time. The appeal of the project visibly points to the political urgency of the message, the consequences of which, however, are completely dependent on specific decisions, on which the example of the state of Czech glass and porcelain can be observed at the same time. Their destinies thus become model examples that can be followed by analogy within the global economy as well.

Danica Kovarova and Eva Sluneckova, curators of the exhibition

Maxim Velcovsky, concept and design of the exhibition, author collaboration

Vitezslav Danda / edit! architects, exhibition architecture and design

Stephan Hamel, Professional Advisor

Lukas Kijonka, graphic solution

Hana Knizova, photo

Other exhibition dates:

4-8 10. 2023 Designblok, Prague Castle Ballroom

17/11/2023 – 31/8/2024 Moravian Gallery in Brno, Museum of Applied Arts

The Made by Fire project takes place under the auspices of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, prof. PhDr. Petra Fialy, Ph.D., LL.M., Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic Mgr. Martin Baxa and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Ing. Jozef Síkela.

The Made by Fire exhibition is part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Museum of Applied Arts in Brno.

Realized as part of the “Made by Fire” project, project reg. number 0215000060 with financial support from the Ministry of Culture from the program of the National Recovery Plan, Mobility II call.