A Strange Symphony by Philipp Weber

With A Strange Symphony (2013), Philipp Weber explored and reinterpreted the craft of glassblowing – winning the young German designer, the 2013 DMY Award. Tapping into his dynamic vision, Weber brought together the precision of an artisan, ear of a musician and his own narrative-driven approach to produce entirely bespoke vessels. In documenting and capturing the essence of this age-old-craft, Weber created a musically-inspired and infused film.

Noticing the subtle rythm with which Belgian glassblower Christopher Genard forms the material, Weber was fascinated by the intrinsic connections between this process and musical performance. By adding additional valves to the traditional blow-pipe, he developped a trumpet-like tool that provides craftsmen with a new playful way to shape glass, an allegory to music.

Allowing the process to direct the finished product, Weber convinced Genard to put more emphasis on his own technique – valuing the act of making glass over form.

With this in mind, the glassblower immersed himself in an agile dialogue with the material. As a result, Weber presented several glass objects and vases as relicts of Genard’s delicate dance.

At this years DMY Berlin Design Festival, Weber will collaborate with Berlin Glas e.V. to present A Strange Symphony live in front of an audience on May, 29 at Berlin Glas e.V.’s glass-hot-shop – curated by Nadania Idriss – Genard will perform his act of glassblowing, while improvising with Dutch jazz musician Mart van Hest.

The awards where made in collaboration with Berlin Glas e.V. by glass artists Madeline Prowd and Jesse Günther.