Daniel Piršč: The Shadow Play

(jiří macek) Daniel Piršč and his Pirsc Porcelain studio presented a series of porcelain vases, complete with shadows that disclose their past, at 100% Design in London this year. This splendid premiere, which was part of the Czech Selection project, was reminiscent of both Kid the Limb-Breaker and Mikulov.

Japanese writer Haruki Murakami gave great powers to shadows in his book, entitled Hard-Boiled Wonderland and The End of the World. What I mean to say is that he embodied them with the soul of the characters. Even though they may have been happier without it, they would have missed joy, love, endless sorrow, and emotion. The shadows tended to die without their characters. When they died, happiness lost its wings. Stíny váz (Shadows of Vases), designed by Daniel Piršč, also serve as witnesses of former lives. They would not mean anything without those lives. A cactus without a sprig would be a mere abstract oval; a Christian cross without one of its arms might be a hammer. These vases are as exciting and restless as everything Daniel Piršč touches. They are beautiful and personal.

The works of Daniel Piršč can be found at several locations during Designblok in Prague: at the Micro-World of Joy exhibition in the Česká spořitelna gallery; in the Prague zoo, where he has prepared an installation for Vitra; and at Superstudio A7 Holešovický pivovar, where he hosts his own presentation.

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