Glass, Craft and Collaboration with Meso Founder Diego Olivero
A couple weeks ago at Clic Tribeca, we welcomed friends, collectors, and members of the New York design community for an evening with Diego Olivero, founder of MESO and AD100 designer, in conversation with fashion and decorative arts historian Patrick Hughes. Held during New York Design Week, the event brought together thoughtful dialogue around craftsmanship, material culture, and the enduring relationship between art, design, and tradition. Below is some of our favorite topics Diego Discussed with IRK Magazine Editor, Fashion and Decorative Arts Historian, and professor at Parsons School of Design, Partick Michael Hughes.
Patrick Michael Hughes: How does the process come together?
Diego Olivero: My process begins with a fascination and deep admiration for craft. Growing up in Guatemala, I was surrounded by craft my entire life. As a child, I loved going to the market and seeing all the different objects local artisans would make. That experience inspired me to enter the artisanal world. And when I first started 14 years ago, I went back to Guatemala to work with artisans there because that is what first inspired my love of craft.
But the collection we have here today is made by artisans in Guadalajara, Mexico, using recycled glass from wine bottles, which is why the pieces come in blue, amber, and clear because those are the most common colors of wine bottles. From there, we transform the material into these beautiful objects.
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Patrick Michael Hughes: How have local artisans informed your aesthetic? Because it’s not just them, and it’s not just you. How does that collaboration work? How much of it comes from them, and how much comes from you?
Diego Olivero: It is truly a co-creation process. It starts with understanding what the artisans are able to do and how, together, we can push the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship.
Innovation is at the core of my work. We also want to be sustainable in the way we work with artisans. For us, sustainability is about the long run. We don’t want to complete one project with an artisan group and then leave; we want to build partnerships that last for years.
I learn their traditions and techniques, and then we explore what we are able to create together. For example, I may push them to make an object bigger, brighter, or more ambitious. Many times, it breaks in the process, but that experimentation is part of the work. I want to help expand what the artisans believe is possible. Once a project succeeds, it creates trust between us.
From there, the artisans begin coming to me with their own ideas for how they want to push the envelope and bring their creativity to the table.
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for a wonderful evening at Clic Tribeca. The evening reflected many of the ideas that continue to shape the spirit of Clic, an appreciation for timeless design, meaningful storytelling, and pieces created with intention and soul. |
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