Monsters Inc

Czech lighting specialist Lasvit invited renowned designers to plumb the depths of their psyches as inspiration for a spectacular new range of glass art. Jacqueline Kot highlights some of the stories behind the creations

Lasvit showcases monstrous glass sculptures created by renowned designers

Some people think of monsters as fantasy creatures, others as happy, albeit misunderstood, cartoon characters or as handy embodiments of political issues. Lasvit harnessed all this in an installation titled Monster Cabaret during Milan Design Week in which it unveiled a collection of glassworks, some limited editions, by 17 designers inspired by the monster theme.

Monster Cabaret was housed in Teatro Gerolamo, a cosy theatre for puppetry dating back to 1868 whose ornate interiors provided an interesting visual backdrop for the various interpretations of the word monster on display.

Visitors were greeted by a tower of screens designed by Lasvit’s creative director, Maxim Velcˇovský. Titled The Independant—a portmanteau of the words independent and pendant—the installation featured 111 screens broadcasting various images. Velcˇovský was inspired by the street-corner pillars of yesteryear that featured the news for people to read. “The Independant is a billboard of its time,” says Velcˇovský, perhaps alluding to various political, social, economic and environmental issues around the world that can also be seen as monstrous.

In addition to the displays, there were regular performances from a Prague burlesque group—the cabaret portion of the name. With its mix of whimsy, heritage and thoughtprovoking elements, the Monster Cabaret was in Milan to make a statement and it did not disappoint, garnering the Milano Design Award for the installation that best achieved its design concept. Here, we highlight some of the glassworks from the collection.