Great beauty lies in the most unlikely places: peeling paint on a wall, rusting structures, old, used, or discarded items. Throughout my life I looked for this beauty and tried to shine light on it, be it through art, photography, or academic research.
Currently I find myself drawn to the appeal of usable art, of making items that will be touched, handled and loved by other people and used on a daily basis. For my creations I try to use mostly rescued, recycled materials whenever possible: saved exclusive designer home-decor and upholstery fabrics, leather scraps, cotton fabric leftovers. Each of these materials has a history, a past, a story and imperfections that make them unique and beautiful. Being an ardent recycler, I feel good about using materials that can no longer be used for their original purpose, thus saving them from an undignified end and making a small contribution to the wellness of our planet. I enjoy giving my materials a new life by turning them into luxurious, aesthetically-pleasing and unique items.
I love handling fabrics of different textures and colors. Being allergic to certain kinds of materials (no wool for me!), I choose only those that feel good to the touch. I enjoy combining smooth and rough textures in ways that contrast and compliment each other. I juxtapose rich materials such as silks or velvets with coarse ones such as cottons or linens, in a manner that feels natural and harmonious. I select only colors I find pleasing, which means mostly bold, in-between colors. My colors, too, contradict but match. And when using fabric with patterns, I choose only patterns I really like, and then try to make them shine.
When designing an item I let the fabrics dictate the design, not vice versa. Each fabric asks to be something else, and I try to listen. Hence, I often spend hours staring at my fabrics. Once I realize what a fabric wants to be, I spend as much time matching different fabrics together. Thus, the design often takes longer than the actual cutting and sewing.
My creativity is a dynamic process that required constant learning. I like challenging myself by experimenting, changing, and trying new things constantly. It is a continuous adventure.
Since I use mostly rescued materials that come in relatively small pieces, my creations are unique and one-of-a-kind. No two are ever alike.