1. Where were you born and where are you from ?

I was born in Warsaw, Poland and that’s where I originate from.

2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?

I think there are three important spots among my early memories.
My uncle’s s sculptural studio with amazing glass roof, filled with his creations.
My childhood friend’s home, a modernistic villa full of amazing treasures, old polish armory mixed with african pieces.
My father’s passion for black and white photography and all night sessions in the darkroom.
Those things, I believe, somehow shaped my taste and introduced me to the realm of beauty.

3. Have you always worked in the art/design field ?

I am a late starter in the professional art field. I ve been doing this for only four years now.
After my graduation from Warsaw University (Cultural Anthropology), I got involved in family business, that is metal fabrication, and only after about ten years of learning the trade I switched to craft and design. As a passion activity I always had photography which I took after my father and that may be the reason why my first collection were flat objects…

4. What led you to the design creation ?

At certain point I wanted to advertise our workshop and show our technical possibilities. Working on daily basis on rather Prêt-à-porter projects and objects I created more of a Haute couture collection to show designers what we can do for them. My creations worked and so I switched to design.

5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?

After making tons of very bad drawings of very different ideas, I find myslef alone in the workshop,with no sketchbook, standing hopelessly at my working table. And while I am looking around at scraps,rods and sheets of steel trying to memorize some very bad drawings it sometimes clicks.
Usually it starts with material or usage of certain technology and ends with form and shape. As I make my own designs I like to challenge myself as a craftsman – would I be able to make it? When it comes to recreate an object it becomes a nightmare sometimes…

6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?

Some days I spend at my home studio waisting time on drawing even more versions of very different ideas, daydreaming of designs.
Other days I spend at the workshop inhaling zinc vapourising from brass welds and patinas fumes. Loosing my hearing for the noise of grinding while producing ordered creations.
Those are the fun and fruitful days.
And at the end, rare days when good ideas appear and are realized right away.

7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?

Metal was the natural choice as I had worked with it before switching to design. My family from my father’s side were blacksmiths and metal fabricator for at least 120 years now. I often visited workshop as a child and as a teenager I would help there a lot. I think I knew pretty much and developed connection with metalworking even before I actually started my professional life there. Probably psychiatric case…

8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?

It was surprising to me that turning from simple fabrication to creating my designs was so simple. Tools and techniques are the same at both cases. It was also a discovery how many different things one can make out of simple brass rod or sheet of steel. Welding as the most important technology is where I like to improvise, joining different alloys and working with welds appereance.

9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?

– take a snapshots of your bad drawings before utilizing them – who knows, maybe nothing better will come to your mind.
– don’t make too many sketches – your phone capacity is limited.
-if all you drawings are bad start prototyping any of these.
-prepare, that pieces you hate are sometimes the ones that others praise.
-while enthusiastically prototyping the most complicated piece remeber that you will have to do it again once it is commisioned!
-put your new design in the right context (proper interior), before you smash it and throw away. Most things look bad while still at the dusty workshop with oversized tables and mess all around.
-being dishonest (influenced to much, copying), is the hardest way.
– learn from others only about what haven’t been done yet.
-dont envy others technique and means they involve – well, the just couldn’t make it simpler!

10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?

This would be the one with no tradition  attached, the one where everything is allowed and even more expected.  But also not so much involved nor rebellious as far as politics are concerned.

11. What designers have influenced you ?

– every new, great designer I discover broadens a territory of creative freedom for me – wow, so even such things can go!
-every new designer I discover occupies a piece of territory of this freedom with his or her works – shit!, stay away!, this was already done!

12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?

I appreciate artists of consistency. I think that one strong idea is enough for a lifetime of work.

13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?

L. F. Céline, William Egglestone, Walker Evans, Paolo Sorrentino, Morrissey, among other great artists.

14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?

Made at available light.

15. Is there anything you would like to add ?

Pretty insightful experience it was. Thank you!

Proust Questionnaire with very short answers (one or a few words) :
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde, Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)