Naseer Yasna & Hedieh Wojgani

Woodcarver

Simon Sorted ©Lazo Studios

Phil Watston ©Lazo Studios

A team in art and life

Naseer learned woodcarving in Iran from master Hassan Khondani
Naseer and Hedieh started working together for a charity in Kabul
Their Sunflower Bookcase appears in many contemporary Afghan interiors

Afghan artisan Naseer Yasna learned his craft in Iran from Hassan Khondani, an Iraqi master woodcarver, when he was only 13. Years later, back in Afghanistan, he studied traditional carving, taking inspiration from the Islamic and pre-Islamic cultures, and opened his own studio. Then he joined the charity Turquoise Mountain, where he met Hedieh Wojgani. Their different perspectives and skills complemented each other and they soon realised that, together, they were a very strong team, in art as in life. “Our goal was to contribute to the development of a high quality craft industry in Afghanistan, and help raise awareness and a sense of pride in its cultural heritage. Unfortunately, in 2016 the situation in Kabul made us decide to leave Afghanistan and relocate to London”.

Interview

Simon Sorted ©Lazo Studios

Simon Sorted ©Lazo Studios

Does your heritage inspire your work?: Hedieh: We draw inspiration from eclectic sources, be it the pattern raindrops make while sliding down a window pane, or the work of artists like Giacometti. But our work always has some connection to the cultures along the ancient Silk Road routes.
What’s your objective?: Naseer: I see myself as a translator. I try to connect worlds and bring them closer together through my work. Hedieh: With our work we hope to open a window onto a slightly different world, connecting cultures and places, and hopefully spark people’s curiosity to find out more beyond the surface.
What excites you most in your work?: Naseer: The challenges of bringing together my traditional skills with more contemporary design concepts without losing the connection to my heritage. Hedieh: We have a lot of fun designing, developing, and problem solving. We don’t make 'products'; each piece of work is a labour of love.
How would you define a well crafted item?: Naseer: Something well thought through and masterfully executed. From selecting the right material to attention to detail at every level. Hedieh: A work that has integrity, with a truthfulness to it. It’s something that can stand the test of time and become timeless.

Naseer Yasna & Hedieh Wojgani are master artisans: they began their career in 1992 and they started teaching in 1997