Paraćin Glass: Crystal Nostalgia

Hristina Mikić, the leader of FREN’s Creative Economy Lab, at the Cultural Center of Serbia in Paris.

The exhibition “Paraćin Glass: Crystal Nostalgia” at the Cultural Center of Serbia in Paris showcases the blend of tradition and contemporary design of Paraćin glass. This exhibition, authored by Dr. Hristina Mikić and Estela Radonjić-Živkov, opens a new season at the Cultural Center in Paris and includes photographs, holographic projections, and art installations featuring Paraćin glass, exploring Serbian-French economic connections.

“This is a somewhat different exhibition than usual at the Cultural Center in Paris. It’s important to present our cultural heritage in the field of glassmaking, especially in a country known for its top crystal producers like Baccarat and Lalique,” said Natali Beljanski-Popović, the director of the Cultural Center of Serbia in Paris.

“It is a great honor to kickstart the international promotion of Paraćin glass and the Creative Glass of Serbia initiative in Paris. Paraćin glass was last exhibited internationally 49 years ago in 1974 as part of the traveling exhibition ‘Design in Yugoslavia,’ organized by the Design Center in Belgrade and touring European cities. We want to show the new life of Paraćin glass and glass design after all these years, relying on the tradition of Paraćin glassmaking to create new, contemporary artistic and cultural expressions,” said Dr. Hristina Mikić, co-author of the exhibition.

The French audience had a unique opportunity to get acquainted with Paraćin glass in a country known for its crystal production, and to see some iconic models of crystal glassware like Antony, Ivon, Sophia, Kumboto, which are part of the collection of exhibits and samples from the Serbian Glass Factory of cultural and historical significance. Most of these items were exported to the French market, establishing not only economic but also intercultural ties between Serbia and France.

The most interesting part of the exhibition is dedicated to the new life of Paraćin crystal through the Creative Glass of Serbia initiative. For this exhibition, Mina Miladinović, an architect, theater scenographer, and founder of the Koko Daš brand, has given a new interpretation of Paraćin glass engraving. Mina’s glass combines her exploration of Paraćin glassmaking with her unique experience of enjoying and tasting different types of wines served in these glasses. The wall and digital installation titled “Birds and Petals” takes us into the new life of Paraćin glass in the creative economy, into which we can all immerse ourselves with the magic of Paraćin glass.