David Huycke

Silversmith

©David Huycke

©Claudia Hoppe

A modern alchemist

David is attracted to seemingly impossible concepts
He is known for his innovative approach to the technique of granulation
His works are shown in galleries and museums worldwide

Belgian silversmith David Huycke has worked as an independent artist since 1993. “Becoming an artist was actually more a vocation than a choice,” he says. “When I went to art school I decided upon the metal and jewellery studio and quite quickly I found myself very happy working there. I discovered that the contact with materials and techniques, especially metals, was very exciting.” He first made a name for himself with his sets of dishes, his simple design and his subtle use of materials. Today he specialises in granulation within larger silverwork, both as a decorative surface application and a construction method. He is also a professor at the PXL-MAD School of Arts Hasselt and at Hasselt University, Belgium

Interview

How would you define what you do?: My work is rooted in the traditional craft of silversmithing. I use the same materials, tools and techniques that silversmiths have been using forever. I apply this to create art pieces, where techniques are used in a way that they are no longer obvious, but give the piece a higher aura.
What do you love most about your profession?: As an artist I feel the need to make and create. The fact that I can do that and exhibit my creations is very gratifying. Moreover, my work is the reason I became a professor and gives me a way to travel the world. My profession and my art are integrated into my life.
What effect do you look for in the objects you create?: I like that the piece, and the way it is finished, shows the use of my hands in its making and thinking. In many cases I like my pieces best when they are made the first time, when doubt is somehow still tangible in the piece.
Is there anything about your work that people don’t normally know?: Usually people have no idea of the huge amount of time and expertise necessary to create my work. These things are not visible. On the other hand, this forces me to look for ideas that go beyond technique and material, like poetic and universal concepts that speak to the heart.

David Huycke is a master artisan: he began his career in 1992 and he started teaching in 1997