Divel brings sustainable art to MIDO

Divel Italia has supported the project Eye of future by Emanuela Bergonzoni. Out of a shared interest in environmental sustainability came an opportunity for Emanuela to take a look at defective lenses discarded by Divel in an attempt to figure out how they could be used to create objects of design.

Inspired by Divel’s Green Line project and by her experiments with this material that was so new to her, this talented designer came up with her work “Eye of Future” by bringing art to eyewear design.

The work looks to a future that is totally submersed in plastic, as reflected in the glasses that block the wearer’s view. This eyewear is purposely designed to be dangerously sharp so as to underscore the hazard of waste and of plastic. But all is not lost. By activating the third eye, and with the wisdom that results, we can imagine a future rich in virtuous behavior—reduction, reuse, recycling, and reclamation. The work is topped off with a large jewel, a sort of breastplate of theatrical flair calling out for this much- desired future.

Matter and technique

Relying on a decade of experience working with metal, Emanuela has made Eye of Future by hand. She shaped and assembled the copper wire for welding, and the frames have a galvanic rhodium finish. Sunglass lenses made of CR39 have been broken into tiny shards and meticulously glued on.

For the large, central jewel, nylon lenses have been used. Taking advantage of the elasticity of this polymer, Emanuela has been able to achieve geometric shapes, dot them with holes, and assemble them for sewing.

A number of HWP prototypes and Eye of Future are on display at Divel Italia’s MIDO booth.