Small serie of vases in mouth blown crystal, each composed of two overlapping parts.
The narrow inner vase hosts one or more flower bulbs, while the larger outer one, once filled with water, acts as a natural magnifying vessel.
The focal point of the water-made lens coincides with the centre of the vase, where the bulb sits, inviting the observer to move its glance from the flower bud and to pause on other parts of the plant. As the vase hosts the whole bulb instead of the sole flower stem, the project aims to question the widespread opinion that sees in the flower the only part of a plant worth displaying.
Is beauty is to be found only in the climax of the bloom? Or is the whole plant development, from the initial roots growth till the final decay, to deserve the viewer’s interest and admiration?
The project was commissioned by Schloß Hollenegg for Design and is the result of the residency done at Hollengg castle, in Austria, during the summer of 2017.
Resembling in their shapes some of the antique chinese pieces already at Hollengg, the vases of the Ludmilla collection have been inspired by the anecdotes on “nonna Ludmilla” (Ludmilla Lobkowicz, b.1908 -d.1974 ), grandmother of the current owner of the castle. A proverbial green thumb, Ludmilla personally grew in the castle gardens a great variety of flower to later arrange them in colorful compositions in the premise’s rooms.
Edition of 7 + 3AP
Residency and exhibition curator: Alice Stori Liechtenstein