Michèle Janata is a glass artist whose work transcends the materiality of glass to explore the interplay of light and form. She began her formal education in glass art at the Institute for Artistic Ceramics and Glass in Höhr-Grenzhausen, where she gained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2016. Her academic achievements continued while her pieces were bought by collections such as the Glass Museum Ernstings or the Art collection of the State Rhein-Land-Pfalz. Janata won several Kunst-am-Bau competitions, amongst them the St. Katharina de Siena Chapel in Konstanz for which she designed the entire Glass Elements. She became a master student at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe, where she completed her diploma and the Meisterschüler  in sculpture in 2023. Her works are characterized by their ethereal yet dynamic compositions, which invite viewers to engage with the fundamental layers of reality. By manipulating light and form, she challenges perceptions of space and dimension, creating a mystical visual experience. Through her imaginative use of traditional and modern materials and techniques, she pushes the limits of glass art.

Jean-Lin Lagarrigue solo exhibition, Kunstlichebefruchtung, embarks on a profound exploration and redefinition of the textual medium. Through his innovative manipulation of materials and mediums, Jean-Lin Lagarrigue transcends traditional poetic expression, catalyse a multidimensional recontextualization of language.

His practice subverts conventional norms of writing, orthography, and punctuation, inducing cognitive dissonance to foster deeper engagement. This disruption is not mere, aesthetic defiance but a deliberate method to expand the reader’s perceptual perspectives, emphasizing the subjective nature of words.

The title Kunstlichebefruchtung, derived from the German linguistic practice of affixing the “ung” as for the “lich” suffix to verbs to create nouns, merges “Künstliche” (non-natural) and “Befruchtung” (fertilization). Altered by the artist with “Kunst” (art) to “kunstliche” which foreground “Kunstlichebefruchtung”. 

The exhibition features a progression from handwriting to complex assemblage on wooden panel and imprint from rust. Each piece undergoes a transformative journey—torn, manipulated—imbuing the material with a temporal and tactile narrative. This process preserves the material's origin. Contrasting with the nature of traditional written materials. The handwritten ink on surfaces serves as an indelible record, infusing the work with palpable immediacy. By eschewing conventional editing and publication processes, he foregrounds the raw, unmediated interaction with language. This approach resists the depersonalization inherent in printed texts, maintaining the expressiveness and individuality of the handwritten word.

Found objects, particularly those encountered in urban environments, are incorporated into his work, serving as repositories of identified essence and narrative potential. These objects, transformed through the artist’s intervention, become active participants in the artwork, embodying the intersection of text, place and time.

The title alludes to the artist’s process of enduing his materials with new significance. The act of inscribing ink on rusted paper, for instance, symbolizes the dichotomy of permanence and decay, capturing the transient yet enduring nature of written expression.

The show culminates in an interactive performance accompanied by live piano music from Eero Schoch.

The exhibition curated by Wiktoria Tundys, taking place in the Kudos Gallery, hosted by Kudos × Büro International, presents a compelling exploration of how language, materiality and artistic intervention intersect to create a dynamic and immersive narrative landscape.

A significant aspect of Lagariggue solo exhibition Kustlerichebefruchtung is his collaboration with Michèle Janata, a glass artist whose innovative techniques and dynamic compositions have deeply influenced his recent work. The two artists met during Art Basel 2024, where they were both independently showcasing their creations. Recognizing a shared artistic vision, Lagariggue invited Janata to join the exhibition with selected pieces from her series What is and what should never be, initiating a profound artistic dialogue.

Michèle Janata is a glass artist whose work transcends the materiality of glass to explore the interplay of light and form. She began her formal education in glass art at the Institute for Artistic Ceramics and Glass in Höhr-Grenzhausen, where she gained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2016. Her academic achievements continued as she became a master student at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe, where she completed her diploma in sculpture in 2022. Her works are characterized by their ethereal yet dynamic compositions, which invite viewers to engage with the fundamental layers of reality. By manipulating light and form, she challenges perceptions of space and dimension, creating a mystical visual experience. Through her imaginative use of traditional and modern materials and techniques, she pushes the limits of glass art.

Their association illustrates the transformative power of artistic exchange, leading to innovative and conclusive artistic expressions. The fluidity of his hand-drawn lines on paper mirrors the tangled, abstract forms of her glass creations. This metaphysical connection is evident in their work, their chosen mediums act as a channel for exploring existential questions.

This artistic partnership not only enhances the realm of the exhibition but also demonstrates the symbiotic relationship between distinct art mediums. The combination of materials:wood, metal, paper, ink, and glass engage the viewer on multiple sensory levels, offering a rich and immersive experience.