Spot the Designer - Maryam Ebtekar/ Iran
What did you want to be when you were a child?
When I was a child I wanted to be an artist. I was not sure what type of art but I was actually sure Art is the only thing I want to do.
When have you started creating jewelry? How did this passion come about?
I was painting professionally many years but 2-dimensional art didn’t satisfy me. Making sculptures was a great dream for me but I didn’t have a big studio for doing it so I decided to find another way, about 8 years ago, I started making small and wearable sculptures: jewelry was the solution.
What was your first project or significant piece for you and from what point of view?
The Tulip ring was one of my first jewelry pieces that were part of the Today series. I think it is one of my best pieces until now. I’ve used a painted stone - a gift from one of my teachers. I have tried to immortalize the gift by pouring the wax on the stone and kept the wax as what happens at that moment. In this process, I had many tulips with different shapes from one stone that remained forever.
How do you charge your batteries? What other passions and creative interests do you have?
Watching films, reading books, and attending artwork exhibitions - most of the time help me charge my batteries. Painting, sculpture, and sometimes knitting are my other interests.
What does the connection between manufacturing tradition and contemporary design mean to you?
You can just use the knowledge of traditional manufacturing to turn your contemporary ideas into reality.
Is there a self-portrait piece that speaks most about you?
The under-pressure series is my self-portrait because the pressure that is forced on us in this period of life causes us changes. Changes often modify our forms and beauty, therefore we will never be those old creatures. These pressures transform us into new creatures with new colors and faces. Only with hope, this difficult path can be tolerated. I try to put back together with the crushed and burnt pieces and make a new beautiful human being.
Which material have you not yet used is a temptation and a challenge for you?
Gold is the material that has not tempted me until now because I think the high cost of itdoes not let you work freely with it.
How was the pandemic period for you as a jewelry designer?
It was hard at first, but after a while, I decided to use this opportunity to stay at home with my child and convert the house into a studio, a school, and a home.
How do you see the future of contemporary jewelry?
In my opinion, contemporary jewelry design is very young in the world but in the near future people will be more tended to use this kind of design and it will be more popular.
Find more about the designer Maryam Ebtekar