The metal frames of conceptual ideas
- Alejandro and Nicoletta have been working together since 2008
- He is a blacksmith and she is an architect
- Their works embody craftsmanship and slow and conscious design principles
Alejandro Dumon first trained at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona and knew from the first day that working with metal was his passion. There, he learned to work with iron and to forge artistically under the guidance of master José Antonio Ares, who is also the author of several books on metalwork. “Then, for a few years, I learned in a self-taught manner and from other blacksmiths such as Tolo Comas, Xisco Mas, Miquel Barceló, and Damiá Sastre,” he says. In 2008, he began collaborating with architect Nicoletta Mantoan to refurbish a hotel. In 2009, 2 Monos was born in Mallorca. “Faithful to the concept of slow design and self-production, we avoid industrial logic – which often sacrifices the emotional aspect – to create unique pieces or small series, with a distinctive and timeless language that combines functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability,” says Nicoletta. “We like to explore the characteristics of space and how to intervene in it. We see our work as a form of communication and social cohesion in the broadest sense of the word,” she adds.
Discover their work
INTERVIEW
Nicoletta: It comes from taking a step back in order to evolve, a step back when industrialisation overrides the human scale, which craftsmanship never does. We believe it is essential to master the technique in order to innovate. We talk about reinterpreted tradition.
Alejandro: Being in the workshop every day is about giving shape to ideas, what we call ‘thinking with our hands’. Every idea that comes, whether from a client or from us, has different nuances and ways of being realised. It can combine traditional techniques and innovative ideas in a balance between function and beauty.
Alejandro: Most people who come to the workshop are fascinated by the tools, utensils, and templates I make to create the objects we design. Moreover, iron is a surprisingly feminine material, despite being considered hard, cold and masculine.
Alejandro: I would like to highlight a special work for its complexity: the Phonos project, a large-scale sculpture, in collaboration with sound artist Marc Vilanova, which was recently exhibited at Casal Solleric (Palma, 2022) and other places outside Spain.
