Porta is based on the traditional technique of kiln-formed glass, which transforms an ordinary flat sheet of glass into a surface with sculptural relief. Here, glass is not merely the final material, but also a space for experimentation— a surface capable of capturing the imprints of gestures, textures and traces of a wide variety of objects.
The relief is created within a layer of special refractory powder resembling fine sand. For the artist, this layer becomes an imaginative playing field. In Porta, Maxim Velčovský works with the imprints of human hands, but the same technique allows almost anything to be used — from paint rollers and brushes to ceramic beads and ropes. Every intervention is then transferred into the surface of the glass, becoming a permanent part of the final object.
The monumental installation Porta was presented during Milan Design Week 2024, where it received the Fuorisalone Award. The project demonstrates how a traditional glassmaking technique can become a medium for contemporary artistic expression while finding new applications in architecture and large-scale installations.