CGD

The main focus of Jakub Berdych Karpelis has recently been experimenting with glass, and his return to porcelain therefore came as a big surprise at Designblok 2016. His presented collection Hände Hoch!, however, retains his characteristic ironical subtext, being based on historical forms for rubber gloves produced by the porcelain factory in Desná and also, for example, the famed manufacturer Rosenthal in the latter half of the 20th century. The Qubus studio designer at the same time found inspiration in paintings by František Tichý. The poetry of a human body and its motion, which Jakub discovered in Tichý's romantic and surreal canvases with clowns, magicians and circus acrobats were transformed to impressive scupturesque table accessories. A mirror, a tray, a four-branch (or, more precisely, four-finger in this case) candelabrum jointly employ the motif of a human hand, to which the author adds brass and glass features with which the hand figuratively plays or even juggles. The collection earned not only a nomination for the Czech Grand Design award, but also for the Designblok 2016 award in the category Best Collection of Home Accessories.

Danica Kovářová

Jakub Berdych, the founder of Qubus studio, lives and thinks like an artist. He never studied design or art, which is how he relies on his own intuitive judgement and distance in this overspecialised world. This is reflected in his work, which has continued to develop ever since Berdych founded the Qubus brand and studio in 2002. Even though he comes up with new designs every year, his philosophy sticks to its basic elements which include irony, humour, intuition and a hint of hearty obstinance. He is one of the few designers on the Czech scene who meaningfully responds to the latest events in the fine arts. He often utilises design as a pretext for his monumental glass sculptures since his belief is that function is no longer important. The year 2015 saw a recapitulation of his work. He showed his sense of humour when celebrating the 13th anniversary of Qubus studio. With the Hermerik light and the Všechno co chceš shelving system he expands his creative horizons. These two objects are like open books from which the contemplations and serious designer reads his experiences, funny stories, sophisticated philosophical metaphorical poems – all part of Berdych's inimitable raw poetics.

Adam Štěch

Recast cut-glass vases and high enamel vases. The hammer as a tool for the final look. Designed by Jakub Berdych last year, the Die Verwandlung and Born Broken collections have a crucial impact on the contemporary processes of searching for shapes. Berdych's conceptual approach is a dialogue on the meaning of objects, shapes of the past, the meaning of beauty, kitsch, and value. Design as an idea, a process, and coincidence. “When transforming old vases, which I did not want to throw away, I did not think about design or utility. I only wanted to change the shape that I did not like for a shape that I liked,” says Berdych. The best collection of accessories at Designblok is nominated in the Designer of the Year category at the Czech Grand Design Award and, thanks to photos by Dušan Tománek, in the Photographer of the Year category as well. This is the biggest historical appreciation of purely conceptual design.