The Press release of VOŠTŘ and SUŠTŘ at the textile exposition of ATOK

24. 7. 2015

The Higher Vocational School of Textile Crafts and the Secondary Art School of Textile Crafts in Prague were asked, by the Association of the Textile, Clothing and Leather industries, to be a part of exposition of the Czech Republic at the world exposition EXPO 2015 in Milano.

The topic of water as a life-giving liquid was chosen as a part of the theme of the exposition: Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life. With that in mind a specific art project of the schools VOŠTŘ and SUŠTŘ connects the art crafts as one of the bearers of tradition and an essential part of sustainable development.

Based on an original design by the academic painter Marianna Horváthová, one of the schools artists will create a three dimensional object from large drops of water hanging in empty space right in front of the entrance to the Czech pavilion by the pool space. The entire object is made up of individual drops of water 190×70 cm, 270×90 cm a 350×120 cm large. Based on the available space 6–9 drops will be hung up.

The drops are made using the hand sewn lace technique, i.e. the most sophisticated lacemaking technique, but turned into enormous proportions. The result will be the largest lace piece made using this approach on a world scale up to date. Three different widths of Tinsel chords from metal fibres were chosen for the creation of the piece, with either polyester polypropylene or cotton fillings.

It is not a passive work of art. On the spot the visitors will be encouraged to create smaller, symbolic droplets with another traditional technique the Macramé, the Josephine knot to be exact – a knot of friendship from a semi-transparent polypropylene tubes.

This simple method will be taught to them at the Czech pavilion by an artist from the school. The visitors will then finish the installation by hanging their own droplets on little chains hanging from the exhibit. Into the droplets they can then place wishes to life on planet Earth, written on a transparent material.

Partners of the project

• Magistrate of the Capital City of Prague – www.praha.eu – the founder
• ATOK – Association of textile and leather industries – www.atok.cz
• VPS Chlumec, s. r. o. – www.volny.cz/vps-sro – producer of the drop constructions from stainless steel
• PEGA-VEL, a.s., KRNOV – www.pega.cz – producer of Tinsel braids and tubes