Leseprobe

Glass inspires with its rich array of colours and lively interplay with light that makes it glow and sparkle as it is refracted, reflected or projected. As the ‘art of fire’, its mysterious production process character- ised by a multitude of techniques and design options fascinates with skilfully executed results that are often impossible to reproduce. Works of art made of glass have long had a fixed place in private and public collections. 1 Murano is considered Italian glass design par excellence. In the 13th century, Venice removed its famous glass-making workshops to the neighbouring island. Not only due to the risk of fire, but also to make it easier to guard manufacturing secrets. 2 After an eventful history, glass production on the island experienced a 20th century-renaissance that continues today. ModernMurano glass began to make inroads in the art market in the 1950s and sells for high prices today. The most important, con- tinuously growing collection of Murano glass is that of Lutz Holz, the collector from Berlin. A selection from the collection put together especially for the GRASSI Museumof Applied Arts is on view in Leipzig for ten months. The exhibition features work by two of the most important glass designers: Ercole Barovier (1889–1974) and Yoichi Ohira (* 1946). While Barovier represents the art of glass-making in the 20th century like virtually no other, the Japanese artist Ohira pointed the way into the 21st century. Parallel to the exhibition in the GRASSI Museum, a second part will be presented in the Kirow factories’ TECHNE SPHERE during the first six exhibition months. STEFANIE SEEBERG Art glass from Murano at Leipzig 1  As early as the Middle Ages, glass and crystal vessels were among the precious objects of sacral and secular treasure and a popular material of court culture. Ricke 2005, p. 16–19. 2  Barovier Mentasti 1984, p. 14 et seq. 2 Detail einer Flasche, übereinanderge- legte Glasbänder in verschiedenen Stärken ; Ercole Barovier für C. Dior, 1960, Sammlung Lutz Holz, Berlin (Kat.-Nr. 141) Detail of a bottle, glass canes of various thicknesses arranged on top of each other ; Ercole Barovier for C. Dior, 1960, Lutz Holz Collection, Berlin (Cat. no. 141) 11