I just wanted to add to this post, as I've learned something recently about the 'Studio Cristal' at VSL, and as I mentioned before, these signed pieces are commonly regarded here in Belgium as demo pieces, but I have to correct myself and also like to set the record straight, even though that might sound a little big headed... but the concept of the Studio is basically misunderstood and misinterpreted, and I'm happy to admit that in the past, I have done so too.
This is the result of several books, info online and having had discussions about the Studio Cristal, after recently having bought a vase myself, signed 'Studio Cristal - A. Collard', that was added to the main catalogue in the 90ies, and it puzzled me why my vase was catalogued, but anyway, that's beside the point for now. Funnily enough, even though it's quite recent there's not a lot of info that can be found.
Again, these signed pieces are generally regarded as demonstration or second choice pieces, but behind the concept a lot more was hidden ... a theory and a philosophy where art, design and creation were bullet points.
The Studio Cristal at VSL was inspired by the British Studio Crystal movement from the 70ies, and, with the intention to renew their image and do something different from the usual production to attract a new public/market, VSL opens their Studio in 1989, a platform for artistic and creative experiments. The newly installed director at VSL in 1987, brings a new strategy with Art and Design as keywords, to develop a new line in collaboration with renowned, international artists, to diverse and enlarge selling points, including art galleries.
The Studio was open especially to foreign artists and designers, ie Borek Sipek, Yan Zoritchak, Phillip Starck and Martin Szekely, together with artists from VSL such as 'Maitre-Verrier' Alfred Collard, to share and discover knowledge, skills and techniques, to create new projects and designs. The Studio was at the same time open to the public, and if visitors saw what they liked, they could buy the pieces on the spot. Basically, it wasn't the case where the artists were working and demonstrating their art for the visiting public, but it was a studio, where the public could see them at work, which gives it, to me, a whole new and different meaning.
Successful designs and creations therefor were integrated in the main catalogue, under a new heading 'Art & Design'.
The Studio closed in 1999 due the crisis, to be followed by one of the bankruptcies in 2002, to be reopened several years later.
Having gathered this info together i have to admit that i look differently at these pieces now, and i'm really happy to have understood the whole idea. As these pieces also show up abroad, I thought it right to share this info with you.
Topic: Val Saint Lambert Vase - Sam Herman? (Read 5968 times)
