Sunday 8 July 2007

My pictures
[mother-of-pearl, metal, wood]

To touch an object that outlived the centuries, to feel the weight of its years and the perfection of its make, is an experience. To show in a new way the beauty of a technique of a millennial history, is a challenge.

What you are going to see is an attempt to bring to a new life one of the oldest art techniques – incrustation. It is generally described as mounting-inlay of geometrical drawings and ornaments into the surface of a certain object. Various materials are used: non-ferrous metals, precious and semi-precious stones, bone, mother-of-pearl, etc.

To make a work of art using this technique, is a long process – from creating the design to its application on wood. First the figures are carved and then a tin alloy is used to fill the carving. The surface of the future work of art is milled and burnished. The image is engraved and the cut parts of the metal are filled with paint. The mother-of-pearl is stuck with various coloured glues. Some parts of the picture are covered with gold foil. The frames are designed to be part of the pictures and to intensify the effect of the natural materials.

I am sure that when you see the pictures you will feel the tranquility and the warmth of the wood, the wealth of colour and the play of light onto the mother-of-pearl and the severity of the metal.

The evaluation of all this is up to you – the connoisseurs of art.

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