Swarovski Crystal Palace exclusive book launch – ARIK LEVY / OSMOSIS

Swarovski Crystal Palace is delighted to launch the first in a series of books on its landmark design collaborations with Arik Levy – Osmosis, which comprehensively documents Swarovski Crystal Palace’s Osmosis exhibition in Milan at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in April 2009.


This book follows the journey from creator Arik Levy’s initial thoughts on the concept, through to the installation of the exhibition, and includes enlightening theoretical analysis alongside images and exploratory texts about each of the pieces that made up the installation. Osmosis allowed internationally acclaimed Levy to reassess not only Swarovski Crystal Palace, but Swarovski crystal itself. Rather than following the established path of inventing ever more sumptuous and dazzling versions of chandeliers, he steered Crystal Palace towards a series of installations based on the chaton, the most emblematic of crystal cuts that often bears the label ‘diamond’ cut. In so doing, he created a techno-ethnic experience and moves the spotlight from the crystals themselves into a metaphor and to the highly skilled and technical precision cutting that makes their existence possible. ‘Swarovski is, above all, about technology. The crystal is the sparkling and poetic result of the company’s heritage, innovation and skill’. Arik Levy


With texts by author Suzanne Trocmé, curator Zoë Ryan and artist Leon Milo, Arik Levy – Osmosis explores Levy’s interpretation of what Swarovski means to him in the context of his practice and the evolution of his ideas.


Also featured in this book is a lengthy conversation between Arik Levy and celebrated writer, publisher and curator Leonard Koren, who explores Levy’s attitudes towards the future of design, themes in Osmosis which relate to Levy’s other work, as well as topics including poetics, dyslexia, missing fingers, doubt and artistic values.