The sculpture Trees Grow from the Sky is a preparatory model for an installation which was part of the site-specific installation of the same name, exhibited at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022. The bark on the sculpture is replaced by a relief depicting the body of Jesus Christ, its rendition reminiscent of classical column reliefs.

Rony Plesl (* 1965) is among the foremost Czech glass artists and designers. In his art, he specializes in the use of fused glass sculpture and uranium glass, for which he employs the unique Vitrum Vivum technology. He has designed for companies such as Cartier, Barovier & Toso, Bomma, Moser, Pilsner Urquell, Rückl, Sahm and many others. Since 2008, he has directed the Glass and Ceramics Studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague. Plesl’s works are represented in public and private collections both in Czechia and abroad. He has received many awards for his work, including the Good Design Award (2019, 2013, 2010), Red Dot Award (2019, 2007) or the Czech Grand Design award (2011).

The Vitrum Vivum glassmaking technology is a unique process which consists in casting glass as if it were bronze, giving the artist complete artistic freedom and control over the creative process. It can work with models made of paper, plaster or even objects found in nature, which ultimately become artefacts in themselves. Developed over the last twelve years by Czech glass-master and inventor Jiří Šín, the Vitrum Vivum technology reveals a new world of possibilities for the glassmaking field.