VANITAS
ABOUT THE PRODUCT
design: Jakub Berdych Karpelis, 2020-2024
Material: porcelain, mirror
dimensions: 25 x 17 cm, mirror 20 x 12 cm
The dressing mirror extends the iconic Hände Hoch collection of luxury home accessories, which Jakub Berdych Karpelis presented for Qubus at Designblok in 2016 and has gone on to win several awards in the Czech Republic and abroad. The Vanitas vanity mirror reflects the beauty and transience of human existence. In terms of shape, the designer at Vanitas follows the Narcis series of glass sculptures (2020-2021), with which Jakub Berdych Karpelis responded to the search for the ideal of beauty and to the trends of selfie portraiture and "perfect" self-presentation (not only) in today's online world. Each head from this collection carries its own message, which in the case of the Vanitas porcelain head is transformed into a reflection in the mirror
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Jakub Berdych Karpelis is the co-founder of Qubus studio. Since its inception in 2002, he has focused on conceptual work in traditional Czech materials such as glass and porcelain. He is credited with the brand's expansion beyond the Czech Republic and the creation of a number of works, complete collections and products now significant for the Qubus brand. Among the most famous projects is the reconstruction of the interior of the Church of St. Bartholomew in Chodovice. His works can be seen not only in Czech, but also in world famous galleries and collections such as Moss Gallery New York or Mint Gallery London and others. In addition to conceptual and product design, he also works in the field of interior design, architecture and free art. Since 2008 he has been the art director of the gallery store Dox by Qubus at the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague.
ABOUT THE BRAND
The Qubus brand was founded in 2002 by Jakub Berdych Karpelis together with Maxim Velčovský and in the same year they opened the eponymous brick-and-mortar design shop in Prague's Old Town as the first ever design shop in the Czech Republic. The main idea and motivation of Qubus is to design, produce and present Czech contemporary and conceptual design with wit and unconventionality. A number of now iconic design products, collections and works have been created under the Qubus brand and the Qubus brand, the first on the market at the time, has become one of the most popular design studios in the Czech Republic in its 20 years of operation. Qubus products are characterized by their humour and search for new meanings and contexts.
Qubus designers most often work with traditional Czech materials - glass or porcelain, and their hallmark is a humorous play with morphology and function. Central European sarcasm meets commentary on the world around us in Qubus products. They respond to lifestyles, mirror prejudices and reflect cultural and social themes and trends.
Among the products in the Qubus portfolio, we find luxury and everyday pieces that shape taste and push its boundaries. In addition to conceptual and product design, the studio also executes interior design, architecture and free art projects by Jakub Berdych Karpelis and other artists it invites to collaborate.
