Passionswege
Presentation
DANIELA SCHÖNBÄCHLER with J. & L. Lobmeyr
LOBMEYR, VIENNA DESIGN WEEK
25.9.–3.10.2020
Entering the premises of J. & L. Lobmeyr in Kärtner Straße is truly a magical experience – the family company’s venerable original store is home to an impressive selection of glasses, mirrors, and chandeliers produced by their manufacturers. From the generous upholstered bench on the second floor one gazed down through a large window upon the hustle and bustle of Kärtnerstraße and immersed oneself in a glittering-glassy oasis of calm, right in the middle of the Design Week Marathon. Turning away from the stress of the city on the other side of the window, one’s attention was drawn to the exhibition “Cabinet Quinta Essenzia” by the Swiss artist Daniela Schönbächler. The result of her cooperation with J. & L. Lobmeyr – the partner with whom VIENNA DESIGN WEEK has cooperated most often during the 15 years of the Passionswege – is eight panels of glass and mirror, which were presented during the festival in a specially designed white-cube architecture with a deeply dark exterior in the Lobmeyr store itself. Aptly, the artist calls the work Lobmeyr-Destillate – it combines tradition and innovation in glass processing with a minimalist and perfectly formed clarity. “Cabinet Quinta Essenzia” was the ideal place to linger, reflect, and gather clear thoughts on the warm autumn days of VIENNA DESIGN WEEK 2020.