ABOUT

Hollow Forms is a glassblowing project founded in Palestine in 2016 that aims to reveal the hidden history of the material in the region and shed light on the continuing skills of the craftsmen in Palestine. Hollow Forms is part of the permanent collection at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and was exhibited on multiple global platforms. Dima is currently a fellow at the Vicotria & Albert Museum, continuing the research process on glass from the region.

PROCESS

The process is done in collaboration with the Twam family in Jaba’, a historic village between Jerusalem and Ramallah. The Twams have 40 years of experience with glass, with three generations in the same family working in the shop in their home.

ROLE OF DESIGNER

Dima’s role as the designer is to work with the experts to imagine new ways of experimentation and forming contemporary glass where the maker and designer push each other’s limits. Dima’s background is an architect, designer, artist, and educator working in the expanded context of interdisciplinary research-based projects using multiple mediums. Her work explores the power of the ground, strata, and artefacts in revealing forgotten, silenced, or hidden narratives, specifically concerning Palestine. She is currently leading the MA City Design studio at the Royal College of Art in London and is a resident at the Victoria & Albert Museum. She is based between London and Palestine. Glass, for her, is a lens onto a bigger umbrella of how archaeological sites and artefacts in Palestine are weaponized for further occupation and colonization of our people from their homes. Dima’s other practice can be found in the link below.

THE CRAFTSMEN

Abu Marwan Twam (Mohammad), Im Marwan (Maha), Marwan Twam, and Khalid Twam run a single family glass shop in Jaba’, Palestine. After working with them for three years, we magically discovered that the small vessel giveaways at my parent’s wedding in 1988 that were designed by my own mom were in fact made by them over 30 years ago. The most recent collection, Phoenician Pigeons, is inspired by those pieces.

GOALS

Our goal for Hollow Forms is to shed light on the history of glass in Palestine by doing serious research in collaboration with archaeologists, historians, and glassblowers. To fund this ongoing work, we are using contemporary design to support ourselves to avoid relying on any kind of external funding. To disseminate the information and knowledge we collect and the process of making our collection, we aim to produce a documentary on the history of glass in Palestine. This will cover the research, including the connection between the ground, the human breath, and glassmaking to our land and introduce the Twam family in the way they deserve to be portrayed. We believe that contemporary design has the ability to generate a story, to activate a fragile industry, and continue to celebrate our incredible history of craft in Palestine.

INTERESTS

Our work at Hollow Forms is not only focused on contemporary design collections and generating new pieces consistently, but we are also fascinated by the relationship of the ground, sand, silica, and our rivers to the history of glass in Palestine. We’re also incredibly energized to decolonize our misrepresented material culture after a century of colonial excavation, looting, and displacement. We love the idea of contemporary forgeries, design as a form of restitution, and the possibilities of imagining liberation and return through these vessels. We are named Hollow Forms for a reason; we believe liberation, healing, and return can fill these vessels.

COMMISSIONS

For inquiries, collaborations, and commissions, please email info@hollowforms.studio.