The Honeycomb Vase by Studio Libertiny...and Honeybees

Studio Libertiny has collaborated with 40,000 honeybees to create this piece. A reaction to and comment on mass-production, it "concedes the human manufacturing process to something simpler and more beautiful". Starting with a basic mold that is the same for each vase, the bees slowly create naturally varied final products. Jump below to see more from the Dutch designer (and the bees):

Marcus Fairs, design writer, had this to say about the Honeycomb Vase: "Beautiful, fragile and completely organic...each is unique and different hives produce vases with different colours and scents. It's a wonderful example of the way contemporary designers are turning away from industry and towards the natural world for inspiration."

Concept: Tomas Gabzdil Libertiny
Beekeepers: Cor Bunthof, Ad Staals
More info: Studio Libertiny

UPDATE: The Honeycomb Vases are coming to Moss in May. Click here for details.

Photos: Raoul Kramer via Studio Libertiny

Comments (9)

Wow, just wow.

posted by visualingual on April 9th 2008 at 6:10am
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will man ever stop trying to figure out new ways to score a few bucks off of slave labor? even if these are just 'art' pieces which will not be sold (...sure...), it's still unneighborly to manipulate other beings to whip up something you fancy looking at.

posted by *heather leaf* on April 9th 2008 at 6:16am
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and the bees get --what? -- in return for their work?

posted by Kat1 on April 9th 2008 at 6:42am
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The commentors before me are joking, right?

posted by spaceagemouse on April 9th 2008 at 7:20am
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Dang, I hope they're joking! Anyone eat meat? Honey? How about own leather? These aren't my taste, but they seem pretty far down on the list of ways humans use animals and animal products in their lives.

Also--and this is more of a word choice comment--to characterize this use of bees as "slavery" seems to trivialize real slavery.

posted by rockypondgirl on April 9th 2008 at 8:24am
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agree with rockypondgirl--well said.

BTW--this is in the awesome MOMA exhibit going on right now, I think titles "elasticity of the mind" or something like that. I saw it a few weeks ago and the vase is really beautiful.

posted by goonie on April 9th 2008 at 9:08am
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i think the first couple of commenters are missing the real point. the artist here is trying to bring this more organic way of creating (unlike the mass-production industry), like honeycomb from bees, to the forefront. he really is saying that this is beautiful and that we should learn form animals and insects, like bees.

posted by avallant on April 9th 2008 at 12:18pm
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correct you are, heatherleaf and kat1

besides the mangling of hives for wholly frivolous use, the vases are plug ugly

posted by holland on April 9th 2008 at 12:32pm
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I think they are beautiful, and an exceptional idea. I doubt that the bees are being mistreated in any way, its made from organic materials, and a big cluster of purple lilac would be breathtaking in this.

posted by MelissaLeigh on April 9th 2008 at 2:45pm
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