Vauxhall Motors Presents a Groundbreaking Reinterpretation of the Blueprinting Process

LONDON.- London based duo Studio Glithero present a cutting edge collection of ceramics for the Vauxhall Collective. In a contemporary take of the Blueprint, chemically infused ceramic surfaces react to ultraviolet light capturing the ghostly impression of botanical specimens, including those of weeds taken from social housing projects across the UK, bringing the theme of Reinventing British Classics right up to date.

A selection of the limited edition vases, Studio Glithero © Studio Glithero. Courtesy of Vauxhall Motors

Asked to reflect on the Vauxhall Collective’s theme, the Anglo-Dutch design studio found inspiration from the Victorian period of great discoveries, when British explorers travelled the world in search of new exotic species. In 1840 chemist and botanist John Hershel invented the Blueprinting process, marking the advent of photography and offering his fellow pioneers an invaluable tool to record and document their discoveries.

Studio Glithero travelled to the UK’s centre for ceramic heritage, Stoke-on-Trent, in a Vauxhall Astra ecoFLEX and worked with master ceramicists to produce the highest possible quality products. The result of this research is an innovative process bringing together an artisan approach to ceramics with a rare use of photography.

In keeping with the early Blueprinting techniques, a series of white vases and tiles were embedded with light-reacting chemicals. A combination of weeds and images of botanical specimens inspired to Kew Garden’s Herbarium were arranged on the ceramic surfaces and exposed to UV light causing an intense colour transformation from white to Prussian blue. What is left is a crisp white silhouette of the specimens, creating intricate floral designs on the deep blue background; a homage to the classic British Jasperware tradition of white on blue ceramics.

The series of light sensitive objects include a selection of tiles and two editions of individually numbered vases, all of which bear a unique impression on their surfaces. They can be bought from the Vauxhall Collective website