Museum of Everything
By: Eva Slunečková
Photo: Adéla Havelková
Your career could be divided into the periods “before Lasvit” and “with Lasvit.” How do you remember the time before you became its artistic director?
A leather camera case, a glass volcano or porcelain boots. There are thousands of such objects in Maxim Velčovský’s Prague studio. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish the ordinary items from his creations. He enjoys playing with their meanings and historical contexts, creating ironic visions of the world. Both as an artist and, for the past fourteen years, as artistic director of Lasvit. Please come in, Maxim Velčovský’s Museum of Everything has just opened!
So, did you only get into glass as a material after you joined Lasvit?
When I was approached in 2010 with an offer to become the artistic director, I wanted to experience what it was like to operate at a truly professional level. Jakub Berdych (editor’s note: co-found¬er of Qubus) and I were a bit punk. I remember when we met Stephan Hamel (editor’s note: the Lasvit brand catalyst) in Paris, and he was really impressed with Qubus. He couldn’t believe it didn’t have significant commercial success! And I said to him – just look at us. So, he laughed and had to admit it was true. (laughs)
Your Prague studio looks like a giant thrift store. You have a collection of pressed glass objects, paintings of factories, doll heads, cru¬cifixes... It’s like a museum of everything. How does being a collector impact your work?
On the one hand, I like to designate an organized space for work, but, on the other hand, I need to have all that material around me. To me, things are tools for thinking; I create from and by means of them. My works show that I frequently work within the context of other objects. My Vase of Vases, for instance, is a typical example. It is basically a cast of various vases that form a new vase with their imprints. I also often create collages, various ready-mades or upcycled sculp¬tures. And today, like every year, I am making a sculpture – a cake for my son. This year it will be made of wood. I hope he will be happy with it; he liked the last one.
Read more in the print issue.
