Vessels of Knowledge

What defines contemporary design? Negotiating past and future, exploring the world of traditional handcraftsmanship, and introducing provocative and personal innovations while forging a space in design history. Considering this, the work of Israeli designers Noam Dover and Michael Cederbaum can certainly be called ‘contemporary.’ In fact, according to Doug Heller—the legendary dealer who built the market for contemporary sculpture in glass and has opened a solo exhibition of the duo at his Heller Gallery—it is the innovation in art glass and the narratives that imbue their vessels that are responsible for promoting him to present a show introducing newcomer artists to his roaster.

On display are glsss vessels in light terracota color that first appear as if they are made of transparent soft and figured textiles, all breathing fresh air and minimal aesthetic sensibilities into the space. When I visitedl the light of a glorious fall New York day penetrated the gallery space, illuminating those vessels as soft, warm, and sensual. Whether crafted by hand or fabricated with the aid of digital methods, they evoke poetic expressions and strong connections to history. When speaking to Dover and Cederbaum, their rich narratives, their constant passion for exploring the next chapter, the reality of their work at the studio, and the unique and complex methods they apply are very clear. It is the intersection of those methods along with their research and the elegant forms that have come to shape the identity of their work.

The title of the show, Vessels of Knowledge: Reimagining Amphorae, suggests not only the academic research and intellectual efforts invested in making the glass vessels, but also the courage to extend boundaries and make glass according to their own unique voice. They work in the small coastal village of Ein Ayala on the foot of Mount Carmel, which lies near one of the largest ancient Roman Empire glass workshops found in Israel. The legacy of the local ancient cultures that forms the core of their body of work, and particularly the culture of the ancient Nabataeans have become their primary point of reference. The Nabataeans’ kingdom was known for establishing a trading network that spread wealth across the ancient world. They would ship their commodities in special containers made in terracotta (amphora) with a pointed base, which allowed for upright storage and for facilities to transport by ship. Those unique forms are the source of inspiration to Dover and Cederbaum. But, to them, the amphora is much more than an elegant form—they see it for its symbolic meaning as a cultural signifier of early migration paths and trade routes, as well as its real impact on the developing craft and trade into propellors of the history of civilization. 

Both of them are intellectuals who never cease to study and explore. Cederbaum is in the process of finalizing his PhD dissertation, and Dover is working on her master thesis; they perceive their work as a part of the chronology of their craft knowledge—seeking to create a synergy between traditional craft and contemporary possibilities. In the exhibition they created two groups of vessels, both based on the form of the amphora, but resulting from different craft methods. Soft Interpretations looks like vessels made in fabric, because the model was sewn in fabric and turned into a mold which to blow glass from. In Cluster Amphorae are composed of amphora clusters which they create the model with 3D printing methods and then made it into a mold with which they blow the glass. The two groups suggest that a wide breadth of craftsmanship styles are employed at the studio and the elastic mind behind their work. Dover and Cederbaum exemplify the way in which art glass is a part of the world of contemporary design, and I am certain that we will hear more about them in the future. 

All images courtesy Heller Gallery. The exhibition will be open through October 28th.