Palestinian Glass in Brooklyn: A Hollow Forms Popup!

The glass blowing industry in Palestine is one of the most beautiful and technically advanced local

traditions that spans thousands of years. The tradition has managed to survive through oral histories and through the dedication and commitment of the families that have passed the know-how down multiple generations. However, due to the fragility of the political context, and the fragility of the material itself, the glass industry has not transitioned into new explorations for the last few decades. Over the last five years, with very close and truly collaborative work with the Twam family in Jaba’ Hollow Forms has shed light on the history of glass through serious research-based work, as well as through the design of 8 different contemporary collections. The collections range from contemporary homeware to sculptural and commissioned collections designed through several iterations and experimental methodologies. The collections are always designed through research first, whether we’re looking at questions of the material culture, politics of archaeology, displaced artifacts, and restitution laws, or the history of glass in Palestine through conversations with expert glass archaeologists. We understand contemporary design, sculpture, art, and research to be the same. There is no design without a deep understanding of the context. For us, Hollow Forms is first and foremost about storytelling. On Saturday, May 8th, Hollow Forms launches a POPUP Shop and Exhibition in Brooklyn for the first time. This is an opportunity to tell the story of glass and archaeology in Palestine, and an important moment to shed light on the possibilities and power of contemporary objects as active agents in storytelling. The popup will feature a screening of the short film “Sebastia” directed by Hollow Forms founder Dima Srouji.