Inspired by the Art Nouveau movement, renowned Austrian design duo mischer’traxler have teamed up with boutique champagne house Perrier-Jouët to bring a sensual, interactive installation to the V&A’s Norfolk House Music Room.
Developed for this year’s London Design Festival, which runs from 19 to 27 September, 2015, Curiosity Cloud takes its cues from Perrier-Jouët’s connection to the Art Nouveau movement and the traditional use of insect motifs throughout this period.
“Curiosity Cloud is about celebrating a moment in nature and the relationship that humans have with the entomological world” say the designers.
The installation comprises 250 mouth-blown glass globes made by the Viennese glass company Lobmeyr. Each globe contains a single hand-fabricated insect and each insect has been printed onto foil, which has been laser cut and then hand embroidered to create the body. Capturing the full range of human engagement with this natural order, 25 insect species are represented, falling into three categories: extinct, common, and newly discovered.
From a distance, the insects are quiet and calm. A scattered few across the installation move, their vessels emitting a soft, glowing light. As visitors enter the darkened room and approach the installation, the insects come to life – moving more rapidly and emitting trilling noises as they collide with the glass in which they are encapsulated.
“We have created a calm, yet alluring atmosphere, where people can engage with the installation and each other,” say the designers. “It is a playful experience, but also a thoughtful project pointing at mankind’s relationship to nature. We want people to be surprised and delighted.”
all images © Ed Reeve