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Italy now: Murano glass sparkles in the spotlight

Italy now: Murano glass sparkles in the spotlight

Art
Design
22-07-2021
WATCH: Global architecture and design highlights, including the ‘Glass to Glass’ exhibition in Italy.

Founded in Murano in 2013 by father-and-son duo Maurizio and Christian Mussati, the WonderGlass studio marries traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. The brand now operates out of Italy’s Venetian region with a dedicated team of “WonderLab” artisans. Over the last eight years of business, Christian and Maurizio naturally found their counterpart in Adriano Berengo of the nearby Berengo Studio, whose mission since 1989 has been to forge a new path for glass-making through an innovative, inventive and collaborative approach.

Already linked by their shared passion for revitalising contemporary glass, the two institutions have now come together during the Venice Biennale of Architecture to showcase modern glass art and design by way of a glittering exhibition. Titled ‘Glass to Glass’, the presentation is the ultimate celebration of the skilled artists and designers working with Murano glass today. 

Glass to Glass exhibition in Italy (Murano and Venice) by WonderGlass and Berengo Studio
‘Glass to Glass’ exhibition view at Fondazione Berengo Art Space in Murano, Italy.
DAN_12_9-to-5-by-Andrea-Anastasio-@-Fondazione-Berengo-Art-Space-Murano-©-Leonardo-Duggento.jpg
‘9 to 5’ by Andrea Anastasio.

‘Glass to Glass’ exhibition in Venice and Murano

“A collaboration with Berengo Studio was a natural fit for us as we share the same passion and respect for glass and both strive to showcase the endless possibilities that this medium has to offer,” Maurizio says. “These past twelve months have been particularly challenging for the Venetian glass industry and we wanted to create a platform to foster new creativity.”

A selection of works conceived by internationally acclaimed designers and artists produced in collaboration with the glass artisans of Murano is now on show at the Fondazione Berengo Art Space in Murano. As well as at the 18th-century Farmacia near San Marco, one of the oldest standing pharmacies in Venice and home of the Berengo Collection.

DAN_Prism-by-Dan-Yeffet-@-Fondazione-Berengo-Art-Space-Murano-©-Leonardo-Duggento-05.jpg
‘Prism’ by Dan Yeffet.
Glass to Glass exhibition in Italy (Murano and Venice) by WonderGlass and Berengo Studio
‘Luma’ by Zaha Hadid (top), ‘Not all chains deter’ by Edgardo Osorio.

Visitors to the two-part exhibition will discover a selection of pieces from the collections of both WonderGlass and Berengo Studio, shown alongside new and revisited pieces – some specifically commissioned for ‘Glass to Glass’ from artists such as nendo, Maarten Baas, John Pawson and Sam Baron.

As Berengo Studio and WonderGlass come together for this exhibition they beautifully combine their expertise and creativity as two leading visionaries in the world of glass, giving new energy to an ancient material and consolidating the position of Venice as a leader in the field of glass manufacturing. 

‘Glass to Glass’ is on show until November 21. 

Fondazione Berengo Art Space, Campiello della Pescheria 4, Murano. Open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Berengo Collection, Calle Larga San Marco 412-413, Venezia. Open daily from 10am to 5pm; 8pm to 10pm (closed Wednesdays).

berengo.com; wonderglass.com

DAN_Alcova-by-Ronan-and-Erwan-Bouroullec-@-Fondazione-Berengo-Art-Space-Murano-©-Leonardo-Duggento-01.jpg
‘Alcova’ by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.
DAN_REASONABLE-BOUNDS-by-Maarten-Baas-@-Fondazione-Berengo-Art-Space-Murano-©-Leonardo-Duggento.jpg
‘Reasonable Bounds’ by Maarten Baas.
‘Minosse’ by studiopluz.
Glass to Glass exhibition in Italy (Murano and Venice) by WonderGlass and Berengo Studio
‘Melt’ chandelier (detail) by nendo.
Glass Venice Murano Italy
‘The Mathematician’ by Sebastian Brajkovic.
Glass to Glass exhibition in Italy (Murano and Venice) by WonderGlass and Berengo Studio
‘Star’ by Sebastian Brajkovic.
Exhibition view of ‘Melt’ edition by nendo.
‘Melt chaise longue by nendo.
Glass to Glass exhibition in Italy (Murano and Venice) by WonderGlass and Berengo Studio
‘Making Up’ (detail) by Maarten Baas.
DAN_01_Berengo-Collection-Farmacia-Venice-©-Leonardo-Duggento.jpg
Street view of the Farmacia building in Venice, home of the Berengo Collection.
Glass to Glass exhibition in Italy (Murano and Venice) by WonderGlass and Berengo Studio
‘FlowT’ by Nao Tamura (top), ‘Berg’ coffee table and ‘Berg’ side tables by John Pawson.
‘Berg’ side tables by John Pawson.
Glass to Glass exhibition in Italy (Murano and Venice) by WonderGlass and Berengo Studio
‘Floral Delight’ (detail) by Kiki van Eijk.
DAN_RIPPED-GLASS-by-Joost-van-Bleiswijk-@-Fondazione-Berengo-Art-Space-Murano-©-Leonardo-Duggento.jpg
‘Ripped Glass’ by Joost van Bleiswijk.

A collaboration with Berengo Studio was a natural fit for us as we share the same passion and respect for glass and both strive to showcase the endless possibilities that this medium has to offer.

Maurizio Mussati Co-founder, WonderGlass

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