Lukáš Novák

Merging past and present

• Lukáš blew his first glass piece at the age of four
• His father was a glass master, his mother a glass painter
• He grew up in a renowned glassmaking town

At first glance, you wouldn't know objects so different in style could be made by the same artist. Bright Pop Art-style vases with disturbing one-word messages stand next to distinguished vessels with rich colours and agate-like patterns. But despite being diverse in style, Lukáš Novák's portfolio has one uniting feature: sophistication. His works result from a conceptual approach that combines deep knowledge with manual precision. "I love to lock myself in a library and search for links and connections. I often find inspiration in the archives of professional books," he says. Studying older techniques and using them in a contemporary context is the basis for Lukáš's conceptual thinking.

Interview

©Lukáš Novák

©Lukáš Novák

How do you work with tradition?

I build on it. I aim to reuse traditional glass techniques that have nowadays lost their adequacy, by taking advantage of modern technologies. For instance, the collection Lost and Found is based on a 200-year-old method of making lithyalin glass.

How has your hometown, Nový Bor, influenced you?

It's the mecca of world glassmaking. The town has really shaped me. I've been surrounded by glass since I was a child; my entire family worked with it. But at that time, it was a routine; I didn't see the magic. However, I went to a secondary glass school.

When or how did you recognise the magic of glass?

I met great personalities excelling in the field. I remember visiting the famous glass sculptor Yan Zoritchak. He suggested that I study at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. He put a bee in my bonnet. There, in his house, I said to myself: I want this.

What's your focus now?

I keep moving. I test my abilities and the possibilities of the material, revealing forgotten techniques. But it's not just about old methods. I love exhibitions since they make me redefine my direction and keep current with our contemporary times.

Lukáš Novák is a rising star: he began his career in 2016

Works

©Jakub Jelen

©Jakub Jelen

©Jakub Jelen

©Jakub Jelen

©Jakub Jelen

Where