Hanuš Lamr

Jewellery maker

©Andrea Thiel Lhotakova

In love with Mother Nature

Hanuš casts real organic objects from nature
He was a sculptor first, jewellery maker second
As a boy, he used to make jewellery for his mother

The works of Hanuš Lamr seem like verses of a neverending ode to nature. The painstakingly crafted details within his jewellery and sculptures convey his profound devotion to his beloved – Mother Nature. "Nature is my religion," says Hanuš. "I incarnate its vital processes. My objects are sort of relics of genuine, animate nature." A mere glance is enough to see that his works are based on fragments of the natural world. Further inspection reveals their organic texture, while touching them feels like holding precious, fragile fossils. One can sense the uniqueness of Hanuš's work, which results in pieces that are strong reminders of the power of nature.

Interview

©Andrea Thiel Lhotakova

What are your main techniques?: I usually cast a certain organic structure with the help of silicone and wax in order to use my primary technique, lost wax casting, after that. I refine the objects further, often stylising them to make them both exquisite and wearable. Sometimes I also use 3D modelling and printing.
Which organic items do you use?: I like using things from the environment I'm currently in, exploring the memory of a particular landscape. Given my residence in the Czech Republic, I use cones, lichens, scapes, acorns, even honeycombs... I come across these in the wild as well as in city parks.
Have you always worked with nature in this way?: As a sculptor, I created objects using wood or stone exposed to nature. At that time, I also worked as a gardener. During my educational stay in Jerusalem, I found my own style by working with real products of nature. From then on, my focus lay on this land of flowers and insects.
Do you consider your work an art or a craft?: Besides being a jeweller and goldsmith, I am also a sculptor. That influences my creation and my perspective on nature. I can model, draw, paint landscapes and photograph. All of that manifests itself in my overall approach.

Hanuš Lamr is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1994