Aleš Belšak

Abel von Rust

Furniture maker | Destrnik, Slovenia

From trash to treasure

Aleš breathes new life into old forgotten items
He believes our ancestors made things to last
His creations stand out for their unique character

Aleš Belšak is a physical education teacher by profession, who started woodworking only a few years ago in his early thirties, while renovating his apartment. He refurbished a couple of antiques he found at home and fell in love with reclaimed wood and the process of re-purposing old objects. In 2020, he started creating as Abel von Rust, a brand name and his alter ego that reflects his urge to create. Aleš is an endless source of creativity and leaves nothing to chance, which the name of his brand clearly depicts: Abel was coined out of his name and surname, rust is a symbol for old things, and von indicates nobility, hence Abel von Rust. His creations from reclaimed wood and old industrial hardware stand out for their unique character and sustainable touch.

Interview

©Tadej Turk

When did you decide to pick up this craft?: I got injured and couldn't do sports, but I needed something for myself, so I started making small things, hangers and then a changing table. Antiques have always attracted me as they have a soul and a special charm, I started picking up different unused objects and repurposed their function.
Did you learn from a master?: I am self-taught, but it was difficult to start. With a flood of information it is almost impossible to decide which advice to take. Luckily, I had a few craftspeople in the area who helped me with their advice. However, once I gained enough knowledge and knew what to search for, also the Internet came in very handy.
How would you define what you do?: I bring old forgotten items without any functional value back to life by transforming them into new items. With some imagination and innovation, I breathe new life into these objects and restore their useful value.
What do you love most about your work?: I like to overcome the obstacles that seem impossible to be solved. The thing that motivates me the most is transforming items that seem impossible to be reused, such as for example a car crane that becomes a coffee table. The crazier the idea, the better.

Aleš Belšak is a rising star: he began his career in 2019