WELCOME to the Spring 2021 issue of Glass, themed Breakthrough – most apposite I thought, due to the rapid and amazing medical developments with the Covid-19 vaccine, which seems to offer us a way out of the pandemic that has so devastated the world.
Jenna Coleman. Photograph: Nick Thompson
Of course, breakthroughs are not just scientific, they can be intensely personal too. We asked some of the people we feature in this issue what it means to them. British actor, Jenna Coleman, tells us that to her it means: “To be seen. To shatter walls that surround you.”
Maria Bakalova. Photograph: Joseph Sinclair
While actor and winner at the 2021 Critic’s Choice Awards, Maria Bakalova, says: “Bringing people together, experimenting with something and trying your best to make this world better – I sound like a hippy!”
Emily Beecham. Photograph: David Reiss
Finally, actor Emily Beecham offers: “Pushing through adversity or something difficult and coming to a new understanding.”
We also asked leading Spanish architect, Ricardo Bofill, who we feature in our Space section, about what Breakthrough means to him: “Changing the streets in any way means destroying your own history, your own landscape, and your own identity. Therefore, you have to do it, but with serious knowledge of the meaning of a particular street or square,” he shares,
Yao Chen. Photograph: Trunk Xu
As well as the Breakthrough issue, the team at Glass also have some very special and exciting news to share with you too. This March, we are launching Glass China, a monthly magazine published in China, and I am delighted to introduce you to Kaioi Chu, the Editor-in-Chief.
Son Ye-Jin. Photograph: Ahn Joo Young
I asked Kaioi how she first heard about Glass and what was it about the publication that inspired her to want to launch a Chinese editor.
“A few years ago, I saw an article about Chinese opera in Glass that really impressed me. Also, many Glass covers have Chinese actors, singers or models, which makes me feel that Glass is not only a fashion magazine, but a conduit of many different cultures and attitudes. And of course, the word Glass means something beautiful and fragile, but you can also see the essence inside through it. I hope that Glass China can also become a delicate and beautiful messenger too.”
To celebrate the debut of Glass China, we interviewed leading actors Yao Chen and Son Ye-jin who also feature as cover stars of the inaugural issue of Glass China, too.
We hope this issue gives you pause to consider the breakthroughs in your life and we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we have making it.
by Caroline Simpson
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