Vienna Design Week 2013: SECOND LIFE – Upcycling Glass Design from Finland @ Wagner:Werk

As far as we are aware the grand doyen of Austrian architecture Otto Wagner never devoted a great deal of his energy to glass. Save that is for the interior of his majestic Postsparkasse in Vienna.

Shrouded in glass from floor to ceiling the interior resembles more a Victorian greenhouse than a savings bank.

And as such is a more than fitting location for the exhibition SECOND LIFE – Upcycling Glass Design from Finland.

Organised in conjunction with the Finnish Glass Museum Riihimäki, SECOND LIFE presents works from two contemporary Finnish glass designers: Jan Torstensson and Jukka Isotalo.

There is of course nothing especially “Finnish” about the upcycling of  glass – so the reworking of broken/discarded/no longer required glass objects into new objects. Nor is there anything especially new. The value of, and by extrapolation interest in, such an exhibition lies therefore in the objects displayed.

Are they interesting enough to justify the exhibition?

Are they interesting enough to justify visiting the exhibition?

In context of Second Life the answer for us is yes.

OK there are examples of glasses and small bottles of a type that all such glass makers produce, but these are joined in the display cases by objects that show much more a personal signature and/or a more involved creative process. Here we are thinking in particular of the small jars with the wooden lids, the bottle divided into three units in a wooden stand, the wine glasses that use the neck of the bottle as a stem and numerous objects we can’t even begin to describe.

Sadly we didn’t note who created what – if we’re honest we assumed that the exhibition was laid out such that one designer was on the left and the other on the right. It’s not. Something we realised far too late. And so can’t correctly credit the objects that particularly struck a chord with us. Apologies to Jan Torstensson and Jukka Isotalo.

In addition to the objects on display part of the exhibition’s interest lies in what it can’t directly convey; namely that the production processes employed are just as responsible and sustainable as the reuse of old glass. Jukka Isotalo uses so-called “cold technology” to create his objects. That is he doesn’t heat the old. Thus saving energy.

Jan Torstensson meanwhile has developed his own tools and ovens that, according to Jan and we have no reason to doubt him, use less energy and resources than the conventional. Jan also works by a process where the old glass isn’t fully melted. Is just melted enough.

And as with all aspects of our modern society, responsibility is the key to a untroubled future.

The question of course remains is what is on display design? Or craft?

What would our bottle opener say?

Bit of both. While the act of taking an old bottle and creating something new is unquestionably craft, there are objects on display that demonstrate a design approach. The best example being the glass jug with wooden handle bound with twine. And again we sadly didn’t note from who it is, but it is just the most delightful, poetic object that radiates a reassuring serenity throughout the room.

SECOND LIFE – Upcycling Glass Design from Finland runs at the Wagner:Werk Museum Postsparkasse, Georg Coch-Platz 2 1018 Vienna until November 8th 2013.

Admission is free.

Full details can be found at www.ottowagner.com