The star of the Wise Men. Swarovski Star for the Rockefeller Center by Daniel Libeskind
05/01/2019.
[NYC] USA
metalocus, ANDREA GONZÁLEZ
metalocus, ANDREA GONZÁLEZ
SWAROVSKI STAR DANIEL LIBESKIND interview
What was the inspiration for the design of the new Swarovski Star?
The new star for Swarovski at Rockefeller Center® is inspired by the beauty of starlight – something that radiates meaning and mystery into the world. There is nothing more fantastic, enigmatic, mysterious and wondrous than a star!
What was the inspiration for the retail kiosk?
For the kiosk we created something that connects to the star both in proximity and in the architectural language. The crystalline form is star-like and will celebrate the beauty, energy and light of New York City. It will also allow visitors to experience the Swarovski Star on an intimate scale, which will be a new experience this year.
How does it feel to design such an integral part of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, one of New York City’s most iconic holiday symbols?
It is a tremendous honor and great challenge to design such an iconic holiday symbol. The new star embodies so many ideas that are at the core of my practice – meaning, light, form, symbolism and, of course, technology.
What do you love about the holidays? How do you celebrate?
I love that we collectively slow down and take time to be with loved ones during the holidays. For me, it gives me a moment to see the world maybe from a less hectic and less anxiety-filled perspective. I love to spend the holidays in New York City – the city takes on a new life and energy during the season!
Often when you talk about crystals, you talk about both surface and infinite.
When you look into a crystal it has got a surface that you look through, but then you go deep into the crystal and suddenly there is a reversal; the depth comes forward and the surface recedes. I think that’s what makes crystals so magical, that a crystal has really an infinite dimension to it. It’s not a three-dimensional object. It’s an infinite object because your being really traverses spaces that are not in this world.
How did your design for the ornaments evolve?
We wanted to encapsulate the radiance and energy of starlight in something everyone could have and make a part of their own holiday tradition. The star connects with so many as an iconic symbol of the season.
What does the star symbol signify to you personally? How does the ornament design express your feelings on the significance and meaning of stars?
The star conveys a message of peace, a message of togetherness in the world, of happiness. The star is such a universal symbol—something that all cultures and religions can connect to.
This is your third collaboration with Swarovski, what makes the crystal material so unique for the holiday season?
Crystals are magical, mysterious—they capture the imagination! What is a more perfect material to convey the light, and spirit of the season?
Libeskind’s studio has designed various museums and other cultural and public buildings all over the world. Libeskind himself has also held many academic positions, and he was the first holder of the Frank O. Gehry Chair at the University of Toronto. Among the numerous awards he has received is the Hiroshima Art Prize (2001) for artists who propagate international peace and understanding through their work. It was the first time the prize was awarded to an architect.
In 2011 Libeskind delivered the eighth Auschwitz Never Again Lecture in Amsterdam, and on that occasion he also received the Annetje Fels-Kupferschmidt Award, presented annually to an individual or organization for the exceptional way it has realized the goals of the Dutch Auschwitz Committee.