Breathless: The Essence Of Glass

BREATHLESS is an interactive exhibition based on Dechem Studio's passion for glassmaking. Representing the essence of glass, from its inception to its presence in various forms located all around us, it features live glass blowing, a museum of glass curated by OKOLO, workshops and talks.


BREATHLESS is a joint project of the award-winning design studio DECHEM, the Czech Centre London and creative group OKOLO. Part of the Brompton Design District, the interactive exhibition aims to represent the essence of glass-making, from its inception to its presence in various forms located all around us. The very birth of glass will symbolically materialize in the installation of a mobile glass furnace, thanks to which visitors can go behind the scenes of this sophisticated craft.

Professional glass-makers Marek Bartko and Marek Effmert will run workshops for visitors and, in collaboration with renowned designers (Tomas Alonso, Marcin Rusak, Studio Swine and Michael Anastassiades), craft intuitive artwork. These improvised workshops will include a variety of raw materials needed to manufacture glass as well as traditional instruments. As a counterpoint to the dynamic aspect, a glass museum will also be created under the curatorial supervision of both studios, with more than 30 diverse artefacts and forms of glass included - from conventional glassware, via design and art, to more utilitarian objects such as fibre-glass, plate glass and many others. This selection metaphorically shows the various forms that glass - at the time being produced in the nearby furnace –can be shaped into.

The exhibition also includes a chill out zone, where visitors can read selected publications about glass and taste the special glass-makers’ 8-degree beer, which is an essential part of the life and work of each glass-maker.

In cooperation with the Victoria and Albert Museum, BREATHLESS also presents two original introductions to glass, its making, history and design consisting of a guided tour of the V&A’s glass collection and a visit to the nearby BREATHLESS site-specific installation where guests can participate in live glass blowing and visit a pop-up museum of various forms and development stages of glass. 

More information at: http://bit.ly/Breathless_EssenceOfGlass

Organized by the Czech Centre London, Dechem and Okolo
Concept: Tereza Porybná, Adam Štech, Jakub Janďourek
Installation and catalogue design: Okolo
Designers: Michaela Tomíšková, Jakub Janďourek – Dechem and guests
Partners: Techo, Czech British Chamber of Commerce, Pilsner Urquell, the City of Prague, Czech Tourism, London Design Festival, Victoria and Albert Museum

PERFORMANCES AND ACCOMPANYING EVENTS:
17-21 September 2016: Performances with glass 10-12 am and 2-5 pm

22 September 2016: OPENING performance 5-8 pm

21 - 24 September 2016: A series of workshops with invited designers 2-5 pm



Accompanying event:

A Walking Tour with Glass Designer Jakub Janďourek and Curator Adam Stech

Wednesday 21 September at 3pm & Friday 23 September at 6pm



Meeting point at Victoria and Albert Museum, London Design Festival desk
Free event, drop in. Registration recommended at [email protected]

More information on the tour: http://bit.ly/Breathless_walking_tour