The Czech National Pavilion EXPO 2025
Yumeshimanaka, Konohana-ku Osaka, Kansai Japan
13 April–13 October 2025
SIN
The founder of SIN and the mastermind behind Vitrum Vivum is master glassmaker Jiří Šín (*1981), who leads the studio and glassworks in Central Bohemia, near Prague. The mission of SIN is to break away from traditional glass art and collaborate with prominent figures from both the Czech and international art scenes – artists with ambitions to create works of grand scale and sophisticated character.
Thanks to the revolutionary Vitrum Vivum technology, they can push the limits of their artistic expression. Rony Plesl was the first renowned artist to collaborate with Šín, and together they recognised that the time had come to redefine glass artistry – fusing impeccable craftsmanship with artistic philosophy and aesthetics.
Vitrum Vivum
The Vitrum Vivum 3D glass-casting technology builds upon traditional kiln-casting methods and takes them to new heights. It enables the production of large-scale sculptures from a single piece of glass, incorporating intricate textures and reliefs across the entire surface. Similar to bronze casting, molten glass flows through channels into a sealed mould without forming a surface layer.
This technology, whose name reflects the infinite possibilities of shaping glass, originates in the Czech Republic and is the result of years of research into both process and material properties. Vitrum Vivum grants artists nearly limitless creative freedom, expanding the potential of cast glass not only for interior use but also in outdoor environments.
Vitrum Vivum
The Vitrum Vivum 3D glass-casting technology builds upon traditional kiln-casting methods and takes them to new heights. It enables the production of large-scale sculptures from a single piece of glass, incorporating intricate textures and reliefs across the entire surface. Similar to bronze casting, molten glass flows through channels into a sealed mould without forming a surface layer.
This technology, whose name reflects the infinite possibilities of shaping glass, originates in the Czech Republic and is the result of years of research into both process and material properties. Vitrum Vivum grants artists nearly limitless creative freedom, expanding the potential of cast glass not only for interior use but also in outdoor environments.
Vitrum Vivum
The Vitrum Vivum 3D glass-casting technology builds upon traditional kiln-casting methods and takes them to new heights. It enables the production of large-scale sculptures from a single piece of glass, incorporating intricate textures and reliefs across the entire surface. Similar to bronze casting, molten glass flows through channels into a sealed mould without forming a surface layer.
This technology, whose name reflects the infinite possibilities of shaping glass, originates in the Czech Republic and is the result of years of research into both process and material properties. Vitrum Vivum grants artists nearly limitless creative freedom, expanding the potential of cast glass not only for interior use but also in outdoor environments.
Rony Plesl
Rony Plesl (*1965) is a distinguished Czech artist, sculptor, designer, and educator. His work stands out both in fine art and design. Rather than conforming to contemporary trends, he draws inspiration from diverse artistic disciplines, including literature and film. He explores the limits of glass sculpture, deliberately treating it as a traditional sculptural medium. In this respect, his work continues the legacy of Professor Stanislav Libenský, who laid the foundation for modern glass sculpture and gained worldwide recognition.
Rony Plesl draws inspiration from his profound knowledge of art history and reverence for the old masters. He has long been fascinated by the geometry and intimacy of the Italian Renaissance, which he contrasts with the architectural grandeur of the Baroque. Vitrum Vivum gives him complete creative freedom – his process begins with models made of paper, plaster, or natural materials, which often become artworks themselves. His attention to detail and precise finishing, characteristic of the Czech glassmaking tradition, are at the highest level in his collaborations with SIN, reinforcing the conceptual essence of his work. This marks another step in the evolution of glass sculpture, defining its place within contemporary art.
Plesl’s monumental pieces were first presented in 2019 at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and in captivated visitors at the 59th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2022. Today, his works – including the iconic installation Trees Grow from the Sky – can be admired in Osaka, Japan.
Rony Plesl
Rony Plesl (*1965) is a distinguished Czech artist, sculptor, designer, and educator. His work stands out both in fine art and design. Rather than conforming to contemporary trends, he draws inspiration from diverse artistic disciplines, including literature and film. He explores the limits of glass sculpture, deliberately treating it as a traditional sculptural medium. In this respect, his work continues the legacy of Professor Stanislav Libenský, who laid the foundation for modern glass sculpture and gained worldwide recognition.
Rony Plesl draws inspiration from his profound knowledge of art history and reverence for the old masters. He has long been fascinated by the geometry and intimacy of the Italian Renaissance, which he contrasts with the architectural grandeur of the Baroque. Vitrum Vivum gives him complete creative freedom – his process begins with models made of paper, plaster, or natural materials, which often become artworks themselves. His attention to detail and precise finishing, characteristic of the Czech glassmaking tradition, are at the highest level in his collaborations with SIN, reinforcing the conceptual essence of his work. This marks another step in the evolution of glass sculpture, defining its place within contemporary art.
Plesl’s monumental pieces were first presented in 2019 at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and in captivated visitors at the 59th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2022. Today, his works – including the iconic installation Trees Grow from the Sky – can be admired in Osaka, Japan.
Rony Plesl
Rony Plesl (*1965) is a distinguished Czech artist, sculptor, designer, and educator. His work stands out both in fine art and design. Rather than conforming to contemporary trends, he draws inspiration from diverse artistic disciplines, including literature and film. He explores the limits of glass sculpture, deliberately treating it as a traditional sculptural medium. In this respect, his work continues the legacy of Professor Stanislav Libenský, who laid the foundation for modern glass sculpture and gained worldwide recognition.
Rony Plesl draws inspiration from his profound knowledge of art history and reverence for the old masters. He has long been fascinated by the geometry and intimacy of the Italian Renaissance, which he contrasts with the architectural grandeur of the Baroque. Vitrum Vivum gives him complete creative freedom – his process begins with models made of paper, plaster, or natural materials, which often become artworks themselves. His attention to detail and precise finishing, characteristic of the Czech glassmaking tradition, are at the highest level in his collaborations with SIN, reinforcing the conceptual essence of his work. This marks another step in the evolution of glass sculpture, defining its place within contemporary art.
Plesl’s monumental pieces were first presented in 2019 at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and in captivated visitors at the 59th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2022. Today, his works – including the iconic installation Trees Grow from the Sky – can be admired in Osaka, Japan.
Alfons Mucha – Triptych:
The Age of Love, Reason,
and Wisdom
This collection of glass objects, created for the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, symbolises the journey of life – a path where wisdom, combined with humility, shows the way. At every step, we experience the joy of beauty while also recognising its fleeting nature. Here, pain and hardship are not suffering but an awakening to the true values that endure.
The first stop on this metaphorical journey is the outdoor glass installation Trees Grow from the Sky, originally presented at the Venice Biennale. Three monolithic crystal trees imprinted with the real texture of oak bark serve as symbols of faith – faith in something eternal and greater than ourselves. This bark imprint, reminiscent of animal skin, extends onto large-format glass panels titled Imprimere, highlighting the interconnectedness of the animal and plant worlds, two realms essential for survival.
Three crystal chandeliers descend from the ceiling, inspired by the Japanese concept of mono no aware, representing the simultaneous beauty and transience of life. One branch bursts into bloom with sakura flowers on digital displays, another preserves them in frozen stillness, while the third stands a silent witness to time’s passage, inviting contemplation on the ever-changing beauty of the seasons.
The exhibition is completed by five suspended Uranium Roses – delicate roses crafted from uranium glass. Representing both love and pain, joy and disappointment, the rose reflects the eternal cycle of beauty: its birth, bloom, inevitable fading, and ultimate disappearance.
Alfons Mucha – Triptych:
The Age of Love, Reason,
and Wisdom
This collection of glass objects, created for the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, symbolises the journey of life – a path where wisdom, combined with humility, shows the way. At every step, we experience the joy of beauty while also recognising its fleeting nature. Here, pain and hardship are not suffering but an awakening to the true values that endure.
The first stop on this metaphorical journey is the outdoor glass installation Trees Grow from the Sky, originally presented at the Venice Biennale. Three monolithic crystal trees imprinted with the real texture of oak bark serve as symbols of faith – faith in something eternal and greater than ourselves. This bark imprint, reminiscent of animal skin, extends onto large-format glass panels titled Imprimere, highlighting the interconnectedness of the animal and plant worlds, two realms essential for survival.
Three crystal chandeliers descend from the ceiling, inspired by the Japanese concept of mono no aware, representing the simultaneous beauty and transience of life. One branch bursts into bloom with sakura flowers on digital displays, another preserves them in frozen stillness, while the third stands a silent witness to time’s passage, inviting contemplation on the ever-changing beauty of the seasons.
The exhibition is completed by five suspended Uranium Roses – delicate roses crafted from uranium glass. Representing both love and pain, joy and disappointment, the rose reflects the eternal cycle of beauty: its birth, bloom, inevitable fading, and ultimate disappearance.
Alfons Mucha – Triptych:
The Age of Love, Reason,
and Wisdom
This collection of glass objects, created for the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, symbolises the journey of life – a path where wisdom, combined with humility, shows the way. At every step, we experience the joy of beauty while also recognising its fleeting nature. Here, pain and hardship are not suffering but an awakening to the true values that endure.
The first stop on this metaphorical journey is the outdoor glass installation Trees Grow from the Sky, originally presented at the Venice Biennale. Three monolithic crystal trees imprinted with the real texture of oak bark serve as symbols of faith – faith in something eternal and greater than ourselves. This bark imprint, reminiscent of animal skin, extends onto large-format glass panels titled Imprimere, highlighting the interconnectedness of the animal and plant worlds, two realms essential for survival.
Three crystal chandeliers descend from the ceiling, inspired by the Japanese concept of mono no aware, representing the simultaneous beauty and transience of life. One branch bursts into bloom with sakura flowers on digital displays, another preserves them in frozen stillness, while the third stands a silent witness to time’s passage, inviting contemplation on the ever-changing beauty of the seasons.
The exhibition is completed by five suspended Uranium Roses – delicate roses crafted from uranium glass. Representing both love and pain, joy and disappointment, the rose reflects the eternal cycle of beauty: its birth, bloom, inevitable fading, and ultimate disappearance.
