56 International Venice Biennale, Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti, Venice, Italy Balagan
Curated by David Elliot, Berlin, Germany
The Recycle Group first introduced the Glasstress project in 2015 as part of the Venice Biennale’s parallel programme. The artists were invited to explore the interplay between contemporary materials and glass, combining historical Gothic glassworks from the Hermitage collection with pieces by global creators employing traditional Venetian glassmaking techniques. Despite advances in technology, medieval ideas still resonate in the modern psyche. In their work Stream 2, a plastic figure—a signature material for Recycle Group—is physically infused with a “stream” created using ancient glassmaking methods for the Biennale. This fusion of modern and traditional materials reflects the duo’s approach: referencing medieval forms while weaving in contemporary mass culture. Through this dialogue, they highlight the transience of the present, destined to fade into history.
