Voo Visits is a series introducing new and old friends of Voo, like-minded creatives and people from Berlin who inspire us.
For this episode, we speak to Berlin-based artist, former Acne Studios footwear designer and self-confessed hemp nerd Yasmin Bawa about Berlin, her creative process and her material of choice: a hemp and lime combination she’s spent the last couple of years developing.
We caught up with our neighbour Yasmin Bawa - Kreuzberg-based artist, former Acne Studios footwear designer, and self confessed hemp nerd. We spoke with her about Berlin, her creative process and her material of choice: a hemp and lime combination she’s spent the last couple of years developing.
“I’ve always been intensely materials based,” Bawa says. “I’m interested in how you take something very normal and do something else with it.” This is exactly what Bawa does with hemp, an under utilised, waste material primarily used in the German automotive industry or in building restoration. Bawa combines hemp fibre and lime to create monolithic forms in natural, muted tones that sit somewhere between art object and architecture.
Hemp is a versatile and sustainable material and Bawa taught us that it’s a crop that sequesters carbon, it doesn’t require harsh pesticides, and can be used to clean up contaminated sites by soaking up heavy metals and even radiation. It’s strong, it’s cheap and it’s a waste material that has huge untapped potential as a textile in the clothing industry. Bawa says, “There are reasons that there’s this big hemp movement. And it’s not just hemp but natural fibres in general, natural plasters or even natural paints. It makes a big difference in creating a more organic, less toxic environment.”
Bawa has always had a connection to Berlin, having friends who lived here before she moved herself. About Berlin she says, “It’s an enabler. I would not have been able to have the studio I have (elsewhere) and that’s something I’m grateful to Berlin for.” She goes on, “There’s also less pressure in this city. When I tell people what I’m doing they get it… There’s a lot more openness to being alternative.”
Bawa’s pieces have a warmth and playfulness and they’re alive with very human-like curves. “I like this idea of making things that are creatures and a bit funny” She says, “I like to think object and user are created equal. They’re both entities that inform each other.”
As for what’s next she mentions that the scale of her pieces are getting bigger. When we visited her she was working on a light fixture for her Kreuzberg studio and she let us know about a project she’s about to take on, creating a large-scale and functional water fountain. “Eventually I’m going to build a house out of hemp.” she says.
Photo: José Cuevas
Words: Rory Khurshed