Els Vansteelandt

Material matters

• Els loves old techniques such as chasing
• Shape comes before the function
• She strives to add something extra

Through workshops and personal research, Els Vansteelandt has developed her own style. At first she took a course with Emile Souply, one of Belgium's pioneers of artistic jewellery. Later she did international courses with Ruud Peeters and more recently, with Giovanni Corvaja. Doing so, she constantly improves her technical skills. Although she focused on jewellery at first, she later discovered that she could also express her creativity through objects. Since 2010, she runs her own creative lab, redesigned by Filip Janssens, in Brussels. “The Henry van de Velde Award by Design Flanders for my cutlery Pik Nik and the opportunity to show it at the World Best Design Exchange in Seoul are among my most precious memories."

Interview

©Nina Eleonora Claes

©Nina Eleonora Claes

What are your sources of inspiration?

The emotional impulses I get from the environment led me to precious metal, and from then on it’s the material that takes the lead. I create by digging deeper into the properties. So my creations can spontaneously occur at any moment while working.

Is this related to your love for technique?

The boundaries of physical properties provide new ideas. That’s why I’m fascinated by traditional techniques such as chasing, forging and enamelling. I use these in a novel way to realise authentic designs. Inspired by Anish Kapoor, I try to add an x-factor.

When is a piece authentic for you?

I want each design to be balanced, without excess. The aesthetic essence of its shape has to correspond with its functional simplicity, and it has to communicate with the body. It’s the result of a well thought-out process, based on thorough craftsmanship.

What do you love most about your profession?

Besides the freedom, I love the combination of the physical and intellectual aspects. The repetitive metal work calms me down, it’s almost meditative. Searching for solutions to create something challenges me intellectually.

Els Vansteelandt is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1996

Works

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©All rights reserved

Where

Experiences

Visit a jewellery atelier in Brussels

1 Hour

Free