Glass has been closely intertwined with the development of human civilization throughout history. The melting and forming processes fostered its unique craft attributes, making it an enduring vehicle for aesthetic, symbolic, and conceptual expression. Berengo Studio in Italy has carried forward the glassmaking tradition of Murano, Venice, and the cross-disciplinary collaboration practice established since the mid-20th century. Its exhibition series “Glasstress,” serving as a collateral event of the Venice Biennale since 2009, has gradually evolved into a crucial international platform where glass and fine art converge.
Rooted in this rich legacy, the exhibition Glasstress: The Modern Art Revolution in Venice, seeks to re-examine the evolution of modern art through the lens of glass. It focuses on how glass has integrated into the conceptual framework of art and continues to generate new artistic languages through cross-disciplinary collaboration, material experimentation, and cultural exchange.
This exhibition brings together 56 prominent artists from over 20 countries, showcasing more than 60 artworks. Unfolding across four thematic sections — The Language of Matter, The Estranged Commonplaces, The Narratives of Identity, and The Renaissance of the Past — the exhibition presents the multifaceted possibilities of glass in the contemporary art context, providing Chinese audiences with a fresh perspective on the medium of glass and a renewed understanding of modern art.
