Murmur

Murmur is a quiet sound, a hum, or indistinct mumbling. Murmur is also a flowing stream, gentle waves, the buzz of insects, the rustling of leaves, the wind among trees, or distant voices. Murmur can be the abnormal sound of blood flowing through the heart, or the collective flight of a flock of birds, moving in harmonious, silent unison. In relation to this exhibition, it represents a subtle dialogue between two entities: the artist and the material, where glass, much like natural elements, responds to delicate impulses and transforms under the influence of human breath, temperature, and movement.

The exhibition, titled Murmur, was created in collaboration with the Telegraph Gallery and explores unconventional approaches to glass as a medium of artistic expression. It emphasizes the organic nature and fluidity of forms and the relationship between humans, architecture, and nature, which permeates the entire showcase. Portuguese artist Belén Uriel participated in a two-month residency in Olomouc, where she produced works that will be presented alongside pieces by Czech creators Radka Částková, Michaela Kachtíková, Emma Balcarová, and Michaela Spružinová. The artists present works that treat glass in unconventional ways—rather than merely using it for aesthetic or practical purposes, they view it as a medium for capturing bodily and natural forms. The exhibition thus not only features visually striking pieces that showcase different approaches to glass, but also carries meanings connected to the presence of the human body and its interaction with the environment. Moreover, the project transcends the boundaries between fine art and design, becoming a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue.

Belén Uriel (*1974) focuses on everyday objects, examining their shape, material, or usage, and how our approach to them can influence their visual perception. She is also interested in the social, cultural, and functional aspects of the original models of these objects, redefining their form, scale, or surface. She works with materials such as glass, metal, fabric, and papier-mâché, revealing their sculptural qualities and referencing design and architecture. Through the use of organic shapes, her work often relates to the human body, which is frequently imprinted into the sculptures or made present in other ways. Belén Uriel was born in Madrid and currently lives and works in Lisbon. She has exhibited in prestigious galleries around the world, including New York, Lisbon, Madrid, and São Paulo, and has received several art awards, including the Audemars Piguet Prize. She is represented by Madragoa Gallery in Lisbon.

Radka Částková (*1999) explores the impact of human activity on nature, infrastructure, and the transformation of landscapes over time. Her glass objects and cast sculptures balance on the edge of design and fine art, combining various media and forms. She is currently completing her Master’s studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Brno University of Technology, in the Drawing and Printmaking Studio under Svätopluk Mikyta and Katarína Hládeková. She is also a graduate of the Department of Art Education at Palacký University Olomouc. She gained further experience through an internship in the Glass Studio under Rony Plesl and Klára Horáčková at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, attended a summer school of architecture and design in Latvia, and participated in an exchange program at Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture in Finland.

Michaela Spružinová (*1983) is a glass artist who boldly opposes conventional glasswork practices within the Czech context. She works with the human body in its natural form, challenging entrenched social stereotypes about beauty and, with an authentic touch of sarcasm, exposes the fetishes of consumer culture. Her unique approach is reflected in her demanding process of upcycling waste glass, from which she creates objects that reveal the paradoxes of consumerism. She is a graduate of the Glass Studio and Curatorial Studies at the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. She has completed internships in Hungary, Israel, and Turkey, and has exhibited her work worldwide, including in Germany, Ireland, Italy, the USA, Sweden, and Denmark.

Michaela Kachtíková (*1997) focuses on the connection between corporeality and materiality in her work. Using techniques like papier-mâché and glass, she creates spatial objects that reflect intimacy and the internal exploration of one’s physical and spiritual essence. Her diploma work focuses on a meditative practice that examines the symbiosis of body and mind through site-specific installations. With these pieces, she creates a dialogue between the external and internal world, linking the physical body with the mental space that is in constant flux. She is a graduate of the Drawing and Printmaking Studio under Svätopluk Mikyta and Katarína Hládeková at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Brno, and she completed her diploma work under the guidance of Milan Houser.

Emma Balcarová (*1998) focuses on the relationships between natural, mystical, and anthropomorphic forms in her work. Her pieces, oscillating between fine art and design, explore the connections between these worlds and our existence as part of a larger whole. Her work includes objects, jewelry, drawings, and paintings. For this exhibition, she presents a project titled Kořeny (Roots), which portrays the mythical plant known as the "wandering root". Through this series, she reflects on interpersonal communication and the search for connection through symbols. She is a student in Rony Plesl’s Glass Studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague, and she has also completed a residency at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague in Tomáš Vaněk’s Intermedia Studio 3.