Tadeáš Podracký on Survival Through Transformation at Milan Design Week 2026

Czech sculptor and designer Tadeáš Podracký (b. 1989) presented three new solid-wood carved lamps and related sculptures at Milan Design Week 2026, hosted by 5VIE at Le Cavallerizze in Via Olona. The works, part of the installation 'Before the Shape Appears,' explore themes of metamorphosis, hybridization, and transformation, inspired by the rare hybrid tree Sorbus sudetica, which has survived nearly 20,000 years through asexual reproduction as about 150 clones. Podracký's pieces combine craftsmanship with experimental techniques—carving, waxing, patination, pigment infusion, and chemical bleaching—to create bone-like surfaces that evoke organic growth. The lamps, one suspended and two floor-standing, feature elongated forms that appear to germinate under internal pressure. The artist, who studied at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM) and earned a master's in Contextual Design at Design Academy Eindhoven, now directs the Concept/Object/Meaning lab at UMPRUM. His work has been shown at Design Miami, TEFAF, FOG Design+Art, and Art Cologne. In the interview, Podracký emphasizes the dialogue between digital tools and traditional craftsmanship, arguing that designers should focus on creating objects with memory and responsibility rather than endless novelty.