Private Preview: November 14, 2024 | 6 – 8 p.m.
On View: November 15 – December 20, 2024
October 24, 2024 (Berlin, Germany) – ARTEFACT Gallery is pleased to present the first solo exhibition of Berlin-based design brand MOONARIJ. On view from November 15 - December 20, 2024, a curated selection of limited-edition glass vases and vessels celebrates contemporary design and heritage craft. Intertwining a kaleidoscope of colors in bold radiant hues, each piece embodies an intricate sense of joy through elegant patterns of transparency and reflection. Designed in Berlin and hand-blown at a local manufacturer in Dresden, Moonarij’s objects honor the glassblowing traditions of the region and the mastery of glassmaking. For its upcoming presentation, Moonarij will present Zigzag, its newest collection launched in September 2024, alongside previous collections, including Oona, Narij, and Oona Babies.
Moonarij’s collections imprint the art of contemporary craftsmanship onto the ancient perception and utility of vessels. An homage to the heritage and artistry of glass-making, exceptional mastery is employed through two distinct processes where two artisans intricately shape each vase into life. Pulled canes are meticulously cut and laid out into the zigzag design. Subsequently folded on a glass bulb, the cane is blown and shaped into a statement vase. By crafting small batches of handblown glass vases, each piece is one of a kind. Their finely crafted forms and patterns have a haptic presence, channeling the luminosity of glass and the skill of accomplished craftsmen. Experimentation with different techniques, such as overlapping and crossovers crucial to drifts and swirls, is imperative to Moonarij’s aesthetic language. The intuitively shaped objects possess a sophisticated and understated elegance in both pattern and form – each piece is signed and numbered.
ARTEFACT Gallery is honored to present Moonarij’s first solo show – reflecting its mission to engage in a continuous conversation of contemporary art, collectible design, and craftsmanship. Celebrating the distinct voices of both emerging and established artists and designers, Artefact’s commitment to fostering a dynamic creative community is embodied by the rich variety of the gallery’s programming, alternating between exhibitions solely dedicated to art or design and those that seamlessly blend both disciplines.
NOTES TO EDITORS
ARTEFACT X MOONARIJ will be on view at Artefact from November 15 – December 20, 2024.
The vases are available for purchase via Artefact Gallery and MOONARIJ.
Address:
Artefact
Geisbergstraße 12,
10777 Berlin
Germany
Opening Times:
Monday – Friday | 10 – 6 p.m. and by appointment.
About MOONARIJ:
Moonarij is a Berlin-based, female-founded design brand focused on handcrafted vases. Captivated by the art of glass blowing, Johanna Wichelhaus teamed up with renowned glass artists in 2021 to develop first iterations of her sketches of striped bud vases. The designs evolved into the brand‘s first collections – the Oona, released in 2022, and the Narij, followed by the Large Bucket, Oona Baby, and Zigzag collection. Voluminous in shape, iridescent in color, and meticulously crafted, hand-blown, and hand-sculpted, Moonarij vases stand out as mesmerizing objects of beauty.
www.moonarij.com | @moonarij_objects
About Artefact Gallery:
Artefact is a Berlin-based gallery and project space presenting contemporary art and collectible design. We are dedicated to fostering a dynamic and inclusive community by supporting both emerging and established artists and designers in articulating their unique perspectives. Our collaborators are entrusted with unrestricted creativity, with the freedom to explore, experiment, and express themselves without limitations.
artefact.berlin | @artefactgallery.berlin
Previous exhibitions include:
‘A Family Affair’ by contemporary Berlin-based artists Anna Virnich, David Prytz, and Winfried Virnich.
‘Blushing out of Blue’ by Berlin-based Brazilian-born artist Caterina Renaux Hering.
‘Transparency, Form and Color’ featuring contemporary Berlin-based artist Nadine Schemmann and mid-century glassware attributed to glass artist Albin Schaedel.
Image Credits:
1. Moonarij, Oona Vases, 2023. Photography by Peter Langer. Courtesy of Peter Langer and Moonarij.2024
2. Moonarij, New Yellow 3, 2024. Photography by Peter Langer. Courtesy of Peter Langer and Moonarij. 2024
3. Moonarij, Oona Vases, 2024. Photography by Peter Langer. Courtesy of Peter Langer and Moonarij. 2024
4. Moonarij, Large Bucket Grand Amethyst 3, 2024. Photography by Peter Langer. Courtesy of Peter Langer and Moonarij. 2024