The project Bubbled Matter by designer Merel Karhof was temporarily on view at Kazerne as part of Dutch Design Week ‘Basic Instinct’ exhibition in Eindhoven.
In Bubbled Matter, Karhof captures the invisible element of air in glass. She contains air and visualizes a breath in a series of sculptural objects and coffee table designs. Karhof has developed a new technique that was initially considered impossible by glassblowers. The presentation offered a unique insight into the artistic, experimental process Karhof undertook together with experienced glassblowers, resulting in fascinating objects.
Inspiration
The idea for Bubbled Matter was sparked by a photograph by artist Georgina Starr, in which three girls blow bubble gum bubbles against each other. Merel explains: “What appeals to me is the collaborative process of blowing. The exhaled, framed air will try to become a sphere, and in the struggle to become as round as possible, tension arises. This tension, both symbolic and demonstrative, is something I wanted to bring into my work as well.”
The bubble gum bubbles simply visualize the competitive effort of three people. The mixture of gases in the atmosphere, whose composition is altered by human activity, thus becomes visible. The consequences of increased nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the air are well known and are central to today’s climate change debate. In this way, Karhof reveals the invisible transformation process of air in her work.
Photography: Floor Knaapen
