October 26, 2011 |
FROM THE VAULT (SUMMER 2011)
Husam El Odeh – The Jeweller
Like art, jewellery is, apparently, useless. Fighting words from a man who makes his bread and butter designing the stuff. But then he’s more than qualified to make such statements, seeing as he studied fine art, and crafts the aforementioned “jewels”. Basically, he’s an accessories designer with a compulsive need to make things, which he has been doing since 2005.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?
“Modern yet personal. Also, kind of Germanic perfection with a hint of Middle Eastern mess.”
HOW DO YOU WORK? DO YOU SKETCH AND THEN MAKE? DO YOU MAKE STRAIGHTAWAY? ARE THERE MOCK-UPS INVOLVED?
“A bit of both. I usually play with things, then maybe sketch a bit – although, to be honest, I always draw, mostly for my own entertainment – then make again. I often wear half-finished things and mock-ups. It helps me figure out what I want from an idea.”
SPOONS FEATURE A LOT IN YOUR WORK? DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR FIXATION WITH CUTLERY IN GENERAL OR JUST SPOONS?
“I like things that have had some purpose. Spoons just ended up being the richest to explore on a formal level. I like the connotations of feeding, inheritance and local tradition – Sheffield.”
ARE YOU LIKE A MAGPIE? ATTRACTED TO ANYTHING THAT SPARKLES?
“I like finding things, but I don’t hold onto them. I love magpies, though – in fact, it’s borderline obsessive. I have drawn a couple of magpies on my bedroom wall.”
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOU NO ONE ELSE KNOWS.
“When I was five I accidentally released my brother’s budgie and he blamed my mum. I never said.”
by Natalie Dembinska
Photograph by Maria Ziegelboeck – www.mariaziegelboeck.com
