Vauxhall Motors presents a groundbreaking reinterpretation of the Blueprinting process
Design partnership Studio Glithero complete a series of ceramic products reinventing the classic “white on blue” Jasperware style for the Vauxhall Collective
London based duo Studio Glithero present a cutting edge collection of ceramics for the Vauxhall Collective. In a contemporary take of the Blueprint, chemically infused ceramic surfaces react to ultraviolet light capturing the ghostly impression of botanical specimens, including those of weeds taken from social housing projects across the UK, bringing the theme of Reinventing British Classics right up to date.
Asked to reflect on the Vauxhall Collective’s theme, the Anglo-Dutch design studio found inspiration from the Victorian period of great discoveries, when British explorers travelled the world in search of new exotic species. In 1840 chemist and botanist John Hershel invented the Blueprinting process, marking the advent of photography and offering his fellow pioneers an invaluable tool to record and document their discoveries.
Studio Glithero travelled to the UK’s centre for ceramic heritage, Stoke-on-Trent, in a Vauxhall Astra ecoFLEX and worked with master ceramicists to produce the highest possible quality products. The result of this research is an innovative process bringing together an artisan approach to ceramics with a rare use of photography.
In keeping with the early Blueprinting techniques, a series of white vases and tiles were embedded with light-reacting chemicals. A combination of weeds and images of botanical specimens inspired to Kew Garden’s Herbarium were arranged on the ceramic surfaces and exposed to UV light causing an intense colour transformation from white to Prussian blue. What is left is a crisp white silhouette of the specimens, creating intricate floral designs on the deep blue background; a homage to the classic British Jasperware tradition of white on blue ceramics.
The series of light sensitive objects include a selection of tiles and two editions of individually numbered vases, all of which bear a unique impression on their surfaces. They can be bought from the Vauxhall Collective website, for more information visit
Blueware Tiles, 2009
Set of 12 tiles, £150
Botanical specimens are arranged on glass plates placed over tiles, exposed to UV light they operate like a photographic negative. The plates are flipped to achieve symmetrical compositions and ordered patterns.
Blueware Vases, 2009
Large numbered, limited edition vase £700
Medium numbered, limited edition vase £500
Botanical specimens are fixed to the surface of the vases using flower pressing techniques. The vases are exposed to a UV light on a rotating spit, capturing the plant-life from leaf to root, reminiscent of white on blue Jasperware cameos.
Editor’s Notes:
Studio Glithero
Studio Glithero is a London based Anglo-Dutch design alliance.
Founded by Tim Simpson and Sarah van Gameren, who met at the Royal College of Art, the studio creates miraculous time-based installations, and processes which give birth to unique and wonderful products.
With their own concoction of design performance, they aim to bridge creative disciplines and reach a universal audience.
Recent projects include Pique & Double Pique, a pair of self-supporting candles, a series of vases impregnated with light sensitive chemicals and Big Dipper where an audience can witness the complete life of a product, from the moment the chandeliers are conceived until the moment they burn and perish.
Vauxhall Collective
The Vauxhall Collective is one of the most ambitious commercially-funded creative support schemes in the UK.
Members of the Vauxhall Collective are supported financially to carry out projects, consequently raising their profile in the industry and in the media, and giving them the resources to fulfil their creative potential.
In previous years Vauxhall successfully ran the VX Collective based on collaboration between members. Previous members have included Giles Deacon, Christopher Kane, Jonathan Kelsey, Simon Hasan, Ben Rivers, Gayle Chong Kwan, Matthew Darbyshire and Gideon Reeling
Contacts:
For further information / Use of pictures / Interviews
Idea Generation: +44(0)20 7749 6850
Ellen Harrison: ellen@ideageneration.co.uk
Marta Bogna: marta@ideageneration.co.uk
Vauxhall Collective website
Vauxhall website
