03 September 2016 till 12 March 2017

LOOK! GLASS

Ranging from archaeological glass, Venetian glass, one-of-a-kind creations, limited series and everyday glassware from Leerdam all the way to contemporary glass art, the exhibition Look! Glass draws playful associations between objects in the unique glass collection of the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag. Some 400 exhibits demonstrate the diversity of glass and show that today's designers and artists grow out of a rich tradition.

Contemporary or three ages old? Discover similarities and differences in form, manufacture and use

Drinking glasses can be found in every kitchen cabinet. But who ever stops to think about their form, their manufacture or their use? Look! Glass provides a visual survey of the chronological development of the ordinary household glass.

Some 200 examples, laid out on one long table, tell fascinating stories about these seemingly humble objects. Meanwhile, the Amsterdam design duo Lernert & Sander will demonstrate the extra-ordinary potential of the wine glass. In a short film included in the exhibition, they use glasses filled with coloured liquids to perform a unique version of 2 Unlimited's hit No Limit.

Between art and craft

The selection of contemporary glass presents the leading practitioners of glass art, who work at the highest international level. The creations of present-day artists such as Bernard Heesen, Mieke Groot, Bořek Šípek, Arnout Visser and Hella Jongerius are displayed side by side with pieces from the historical glass collection to show the common threads that connect them across time. Visitors are challenged to look more closely and discover eye-opening similarities and differences in technique, design and application.

Special attention is devoted to the work of the Italian master glassmaker Lino Tagliapietra (b. 1934), which unites the virtues of art and craft, sophistication and grace. Tagliapietra is universally recognised as one of the world's foremost glass artists, because of his ability to merge classic and contemporary design.

The presentation is crafted by designer Lenneke Wispelwey.