Words by Lula Criado
Yael Levin is a jewellery designer living and working in Tel Aviv (Israel) who uses the human body as inspiration. Yael explores materials combining forms, shapes and movement and is blurring the boundaries between jewellery, industry and fashion.
I met Yael at Designersblock Exhibition in London during the London Design Festival. There she explained how she crafts her pieces and allowed me access to her latest creation – a project called Papier Machine.
With Papier Machine, Levin blends mechanical elements with the art of jewellery to create highly imaginative and unusual rings, earrings, brooches, bracelets and necklaces.
What is more important: to take or not to take yourself too seriously in order to be creative?
Definitely not take yourself too seriously! I think that in order to be creative, one has to take everything seriously – but never himself. If you take yourself too seriously it means you are letting your ego take control of the process.
For me to create is to design, and design to me means to work from outside in. To recognise a problem or a situation in the world around me and try to find a way to approach it that is different from what has been so far. Most of the time, that means time to put your ego aside.
What’s your favourite time of the day?
Although I am a morning person, my favourite time is right before I fall asleep, that’s the best time for me to think. Most of the time that’s when the design process begins. And then I can’t wait until it’s morning again so that I could start working on the things I’ve been thinking about. Sometimes I can’t sleep from all that excitement.
Solitude or loneliness, how do you spend your time alone?
I do spend a lot of time by myself, but when I think about it – I’ve never really felt lonely. There’s always something to do. I can’t point to something specific – but when I’m alone I make jewellery most of the time I guess. Maybe that’s the thing – if you always find a way to keep busy, then you are never alone… I also have a cat so I guess there’s always someone there anyway…
Have you found beauty in unexpected places/situations?
Well, the cliché will be to say that beauty is everywhere – but it’s true! Because What we perceive as beautiful is basically a set of rules that involve the correct combination between form, matter & function along with our senses & emotions.
As a designer, you are meant to know these rules and to be able to apply them on pretty much everything. Personally, for me – it’s also the most fun! So, to answer the question – most of the beauty is found in unexpected places…
What do you want to achieve before you die?
I don’t know… achievements are very subjective. Maybe just to see the northern lights… maybe to witness something miraculous or to change the way other people look at things – but I couldn’t know until it happens… and it might happen after I die…
One for the road… What are you unafraid of?
That’s a very philosophic question… I’m unafraid of changes. I even welcome them. Every change brings new possibilities and that means new & different angles for work – and that makes me happy.
