Roped into a pursuit of perfection
- Rudolfs learned braiding techniques on his own
- He aims to popularise whip cracking in Latvia through social media
- He expresses himself artistically with different patterns and colour combinations
Rudolfs Dzirkalis creates different types of complex performance and sport whips, including bullwhips, snake whips and signal whips. At a young age, he realised that his need for perfection would affect his life and career, as he was obsessed with realistic drawings. "While I was working in a military shop, I saw some paracord braiding accessories, and I thought that I could make a perfect product from the same material," Rudolfs says. He started by braiding zipper pullers and moved on to bracelets, belts and ropes, before finally discovering whips. "I am driven by the need for perfecting an object's making process, and not the object itself," he explains. Today, Rudolfs consults local artisans to improve his skills and learn how to better blend different materials and techniques.
Interview
- When did you realise you enjoyed working with your hands?
- I have always enjoyed being creative, so working with my hands came naturally to me. To create things, one has to work with their hands, there is no way around it. I never realised how much I liked it, I just accepted it.
- What led you to whip making?
- My mentor introduced me to whips when I was starting my bracelet braiding journey. I decided to give it a try, as I had all the materials and enjoyed a challenge. I found that whip making demands a lot of technical skill. I failed over and over again, and my frustration turned into obsession. I did not stop until I perfected the process.
- How do you express yourself through your whips?
- I use different colour and pattern combinations, but some details can affect the performance of whips. Before being an art expression, a whip is a tool that needs to fulfil its function. Bullwhips are easier to design, because their handles do not need to be braided, which allows me to experiment with other materials.
- Does globalisation affect this unique tool's market?
- The majority of enthusiasts do not use the whip for its utility. Whip cracking is a hobby and a performance, so most of my clients have whip collections. If they were using it for herding, I believe they would only own one.
Rudolfs Dzirkalis is a rising star: he began his career in 2021
Where
Rudolfs Dzirkalis
