Since the beginnings of glassmaking in ancient Mesopotamia and its meteoric rise to international prominence in the Roman Empire, the magical medium of glass - a solid that takes on the
appearance of a liquid - has attractive innovative artists and designers to continue to push the medium into new realms. The history of the decorative arts in the West over the past two
millennia is a testament to the limitless potential of the medium in both the realms of functional design and independent works of art.
The expressive force of glass emerges from the pages of the Glasstrees catalogue, published on the occasion of the Venice Biennale exhibition travelling to the Museum of Arts and Design of New
York in February 2012. The excellent colour photographs illustrate the glass sculptures and installations by internationally-acclaimed artists and designers, some of the most important on the
international scene, who for the occasion tackled one of the arts to have made Venice famous throughout the world. The pieces are dramatic and often provocative, ranging from independent
sculptures to installations incorporating sounds and light to prototypes for production. The spirit of innovation and experimentation pervades the works: many of the artists and designers were
given their first opportunity to work with this challenging medium.
The catalogue will become a "must" for collectors, designers, students and connoisseurs.
