The grit to shift
- Alexandra won the Lápiz de Acero design award in 2007, 2009 and 2010
- She has a Bachelor’s degree in dentistry
- Her work has been exhibited in Colombia and the USA
Alexandra Agudelo’s meticulous silver works hold a particular characteristic of imperfection in form and texture. She has created this aesthetic through chisel hammering, fold forming and forging, in order to re-define pre-Columbian iconography, ritual artefacts, and traditional objects. A great range of objects inspire Alexandra, from the Colombian domestic scene to modern art. Her silver pieces stand out as exclusive Colombian contemporary art in the most notable homes worldwide, and are also exhibited to the public in museums and galleries. Alexandra is an insatiable learner, transiting from an early profession in dentistry to a life practising the craft of silversmithing. She set off on a personal quest to understand the creative process when she started silversmithing studies at EAOSD (Escuela de Artes y Oficios Santo Domingo) and Fine Arts at Los Andes University.
Interview
- What early experiences do you think brought you close to your craft?
- Sewing layer upon layer of textile remnants to make dresses for my childhood dolls, the comforting memory of household objects like the wooden whisk to froth hot chocolate or the calabash spoon used in Colombian kitchens to sprinkle salt. I also marvel at alchemy, ever since my first contact with mercury as a dentistry student.
- What was a memorable moment along your path as a silversmith?
- As a student, I was working a vase on the lathe, when it cracked open like a flower in imperfect bloom. I was not aware my piece had been noticed by a special school visitor from the First Lady’s office that day. My awkward vase was selected as a present for Queen Sofia of Spain on official visit to Colombia. This motivated me to keep experimenting with form.
- What is your experience and approach to apprenticeships?
- I do not consider myself a very patient teacher, however I have had the opportunity to teach at least 15 apprentices at my workshop. I emphasise the need to research and find a reference theme as a prelude to the creative process, to shift from the purely technical towards originality.
- What was your first public recognition as an artisan?
- A was still a student when I won the Lápiz de Acero design award in 2007 for Surprise Vase. Two silver pieces I worked on next to my class tutors, Alexander, Edwin and Yerson. The most precious recognition I received came from my own children, who were proud of their mother's newfound talent.
Alexandra Agudelo is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2005
Where
Alexandra Agudelo
