This great publication in Dutch and in English in a carton box with a crystal magnifying-glass with handle or loupe, was released on the occasion of the exposition Arnout Visser and the Glass Pirates in the Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem from 25/8/2013 to 17/22/2013. The book explains Visser as ‘form-finder’, his interests, glass, works and designs.

Telling about his youth, his child’s laboratory, the craft, the texts explain his contribution to Droog Design, his cooperation with Maria Hees, Erik Jan Kwakkel, and his development working in the Czech Republic. In 2000 he made his first trip to Kenya and came up with his contribution in developing possibilities. In Kitengela he worked in the glass studio which was specially built because of the lack of electricity, owned by Anselm Croze with local glass makers using old glass as their raw material, learning to accept their handwork and the crookedness of the melt giving bubbles and impurities lending depth to the ‘Bush’ glass products. With social items like his condom vases, Visser hopes to break down the taboos as on AIDS. In 2010, Africa’s best glassblower, Kyalo, came to Leerdam with a team of glassmakers to work with Visser to develop new products and skills to make these objects in ‘Blown to Life’, a program to bring containers with tools and materials to Kenya. Kyalo set up a new glassblowing company as other glassblowers spread to Tanzania and the Seychelles. They cooperate with Czech glassblowers they met in the Leerdam Glasblazerij, who are still going to Kenia to help improve the glass techniques and skills. In Leerdam Visser visits the glass studio with students from the Design Academy in Eindhoven to execute their concepts. The book ends with pages on Visser as inventor and photos on the making of the loupe in the Czech Republic.

All texts are accompanied with great photos of working situations, the glass blowers, the objects and products.

More information:
Arnout Visser. Form-finder & designer since 1991
Alexanderstraat 33, 6812 BC Arnhem, Netherlands
+31 26 442 9046

A treasure box everyone should have and hold! Highly recommended!