Czechmade, a new generation of glassmakers.

11 January - 15 March 2008

Czech Glass has held a special position in the history of glassmaking since the Middle Ages. In particular the region of Bohemia has produced many talented glass makers and teachers. The legendary teachers and glass artists such as Stanislav Libenský have moved Contemporary Czech Glass into international prominence. The country’s unique system of teaching glass at specialised glass secondary schools in Bohemia has created a special relationship between the artists and their students. The creative tension is augmented by the closeness in age of the teachers and their students which in turns makes the relationship more intimate and challenging at the same time. The teachers, all born in the eighties have taught a new generation of glassmakers, all born in the seventies.

This exhibition features the work of three young glass artist teachers, Anna Polanská, Lada Semecká and Martin Hlubucek and their students.

Anna Polanská creates cut glass bowls and vases with endearing titles like” Honey Landscape” in earthy colours inspired by nature and the landscape which surrounds her. She taught Michal Šilhán at Železný Brod secondary school who is the youngest exhibiting artist. He “brings the poetic world of children’s games” in a very accessible way through humour and childlike simplicity of form and colour.

Anna Polanská

Zuzana Kyncloá

Lada Semecká has successfully exhibited at flow before and continues to experiment with technology to create fluid forms by overlaying and cutting the glass to reflect the volatile moments in life. Barbora Voborilová, Veronika Cerná and Radim Langer are her students at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design (AAAD) in Prague where she lectures.

Lada Semecká

Veronika Cerná

Barbora Voborilová studied glass painting at the glass school at Železný Brod and continues at the AAAD at the glass studio headed by Vladimir Kopecký. She decorates her hand blown cylindrical vessels with folk motifs. Veronika Cerná creates organic forms often inspired by the music of Bohuslav Martinu. Radim Langer is more of a painter than a glassmaker which is manifested in the gently blown forms with abstract markings on them.

Barbora Voborilová

Radim Langer

Martin Hlubucek studied under Pavel Mizera and now teaches in Železný Brod School. He makes mould-melted glass bowls and vases with matt surfaces which are more like monumental sculptures than functional objects. His student, Susana Kynclová who originally studied in Železný Brod School is now studying at the AAAD. Her mould melted glass bowls are a “Witty reminder of plastic inflatables that children play with on the beach”.

Martin Hlubucek

Michal Silhán

The exhibition is also going to be shown at The Crafts Study Centre at Farnham in July and August 2008.

This press release was based on the text written by Milan Hlaves, who is the curator of the Collection of Modern and Contemporary Glass at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague.

The exhibition is supported by The Czech Centre in London.