Jakub Berdych Karpelis: Bazaar Bizaar

Jakub Berdych Karpelis’s Bazaar Bizaar (2025) creates a situation that is also a deliberately fragmentary whole—an object composed of the memory of other objects. The individual components, originally intended for different types of light fixtures, lose their original functional and aesthetic hierarchy here and enter a new, open system. The principle of “assembly” is not merely a technical gesture but also a shift in meaning: the chandelier becomes a collage, a spatial assemblage in which decor, industrial detail, and ornamental excess converge. The resulting objects balance between design and art, between utilitarian form and its deconstruction.

The Dadaist logic of chance and surprising connections is present here, but it is not random—on the contrary, it is precisely composed. The result is a visually rich, slightly absurd whole that challenge sour expectations of the classic chandelier as a symbol of order, symmetry, and representation.

In the installation for DOX by Qubus, the object further emancipates itself: it serves not only as a source of light, but as a situation in space. The viewer finds themselves beneath a structure that is not definitive, but rather in process—as if it could be taken apart and reassembled differently at any moment.

Jakub Berdych Karpelis (b. 1971, Prague)
A multidisciplinary designer and sculptor, and co-founder of one of the most renowned independent Czech design studios, Qubus Design Studio (2002), which simultaneously opened its showroom as the first Czech design shop and, under its own Qubus brand, launched the so-called new wave of Czech design by producing its own collections. From 2002 to 2010, Jakub co-led Qubus with Maxim Velčovský; since then, Jakub has remained the sole chief designer and, in parallel, has focused primarily on his independent work with traditional materials such as glass, stone, and porcelain. He is the creator of numerous collections and products that have been featured in the offerings of Moss Gallery New York and Mint Gallery London. His works, which straddle the line between art and design, are represented in a number of prestigious museum and private collections. His studio, Qubus, is also responsible for the architectural design of numerous exhibitions and displays, and he himself has designed several awards, such as the Magnesia Litera. He has collaborated with leading Czech manufacturers (Lasvit, BOMMA, Preciosa) and has served as creative director of Artglass since late 2025.

ARTGLASS is a Czech lighting manufacturer that has been active in the market since 1993. It illuminateshistoric halls as well as modern minimalist interiors. A new era for the brand begins with the arrival of art director Jakub Berdych Karpelis. Under his leadership, traditional craftsmanship is combined with bold contemporary design that pushes the boundaries of glass art. By combining the stability of a traditionalmanufacturer with the dynamism of a modern design studio, the brand creates timeless value for discerningclients around the world.