Spot the designer - Ariel Lavian/ Israel
What did you want to be when you were a child?
I do not remember at all what I wanted to be or even thought about it, I do remember I collected materials, stones, broken tools, etc.
When have you started creating jewelry? How did this passion come about?
In my early 20s, I traveled a lot and during my trips, I started making jewelry from casual materials. When I returned to Israel I began to study at the Bezalel, Academy of Art and Design, at the jewelry and fashion department. There was the first time, I was exposed to the fascinating world of jewelry and contemporary jewelry in particular.
What was your first project or significant piece for you and from what point of view?
It's hard to choose, but I think my master's thesis project, Plastitution, is the first project that I really felt like I was saying something meaningful about the issues that were disturbing me, that I wanted to discuss and criticize.
Plastitution
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles in the Earth's environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. Plastics are inexpensive and durable, and as a result levels of plastic production by humans are high. However, the chemical structure of most plastics renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation and as a result, they are slow to degrade. Together, these two factors have led to a high prominence of plastic pollution in the environment. Plastic pollution can afflict land, waterways, and oceans. It is estimated that 1.1 to 8.8 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean from coastal communities each year. This project is the result of a year-long study, in which, once a week I went to the beach near my house and collected waste. Out of that waste, I created a world that corresponds with the surrounding- the sea.
How do you charge your batteries? What other passions and creative interests do you have?
I don't feel the need to charge my batteries, I really enjoy working in my studio, it's the best pastime, I always work on several projects in parallel and they are usually very different from one another. The rest of my time I spend with my wife and kids.
What does the connection between manufacturing tradition and contemporary design mean to you?
The way I see it, contemporary jewelry rests on the tools and techniques of classic jewelry.
Is there a self-portrait piece that speaks most about you?
This is a very difficult question, with every object I make and create part of me got into it, so I guess all my objects in a certain way are self-portrait.
How do you see the future of contemporary jewelry?
Hard to know, I wish the field would continue to grow and develop and become more well-known in the general population and not just among us, but I hope the quality of the craft will not go down as a result but will only increase and improve.
Find more about the designer Ariel Lavian