Milan: FF
2013 – Dilmos: Glassworks by Nendo. A solo exhibition
on the Japanese group Nendo with projects that have glass in common was on show
at the Dilmos gallery. Nendo designs are
minimal in gestures but strong in meaning and reread and rethink the shapes,
functions and decorations of some iconic items in glass. The aim of Glassworks is to bring out a new
awareness around a material about which there is still much to be said.
Above. Patchwork glass vase designed by Nendo and made by
Lasvit. Talking about the collection of
vases in Bohemian glass, “We reheated a variety of objects already decorated
with traditional cut glass patterns, then sliced them open and reattached them
to each other to create one large object.
As a manner of making, the process was like sewing together small
fragments of cloth to create a great patchwork quilt."
Dilmos:
Glassworks by Nendo. Bottleware
a Nendo project for Coca Cola. A collection of glass bowls and dishes. Coca Cola's "contour bottle" has
been a brand icon since its inception in 1916. It is also recyclable. This tableware collection is made from bottles that have
deteriorated over the course of extensive recycling, and can no longer be used
for their original purpose. "We were captivated by the particular green tint
known as “Georgia Green”, and by the
fine air bubbles and distortions that are a hallmark of recycled glass, so
decided to create simple shapes that would enhance these traits. But we also
wanted users to feel a remnant of the distinctive bottle in the new products.
Our solution was to create bowls and dishes that retain its distinctive lower
shape, as though the top had been sliced off.
Dilmos:
Glassworks by Nendo. Mosaic Glass Table a Nendo a project for
Bisazza. A table with a metal structure
and glass top with the application of mosaic tiles in transparent glass. "We applied transparent mosaic tiles to
the highly trans missive glass tabletop of this dining table. Colorfulness is
ordinarily the defining feature of mosaic tiles. By removing this distinctive
characteristic from the tiles, we brought out their texture, emphasizing their
materiality as glass."
Dilmos:
Glassworks by Nendo. Rotating Glass Shelf a Nendo project with
glass discs made by Lasvit. Shelves made
of multi layer birch with rotating disks in blown glass. A storage unit whose doors are disc shaped
glass sheets. “Our design derives from the historical practice of cutting
sheet glass from glass discs. We thought
that the faint swells and depressions that result from the artisanal handmade
practice would gently warp the things placed on the shelves, behind the
glass. The holes in the center become
finger sized handles to roll the discs left and right.”