Eva Burton interviewed by Jouw

What have you rebelled against in the past, and what are you rebelling against now?
Fortunately, I have been raised by parents who understood rebellion as an important element for building my personality and to be ready for the world which was waiting outside the safe walls of my home. Although a few times I perhaps rebelled a bit too much against them. You know I am sorry mum and dad! Now, I rebel against myself. Exploring muddy paths and to come back from the trip with a backpack full of enriching experiences.


Do you need to rebel to enjoy your pieces?
Just be ready to confront, to seek, to explore, to play.


Do you use your own pieces?
I do wear my jewellery pieces. I also play with the toys I have made. Since these are my first tableware pieces I did not have the chance to eat with them yet. But I want to! I dream of slowly packing my house with many handmade objects, made by me, by my colleagues and by craftsmen from all around the world. I wish I could even build my own house! Maybe one day I will… and it would have a toboggan!


Steinbeisser experimental Gastronomy using the Plates from Eva Burton in Amsterdam


How do you think dishware can be improved?
I strongly believe that for improving, growing and in order to progress we need to be watchful, to sharpen our senses and be connected with our current surrounding and also with our roots. When we manage to connect both making and thinking, let´s say when formal aspects shake hands with theoretical background, this allows us to give the objects we create another very important element: a meaning, a message, a soul.


What was the inspiration for your Steinbeisser series?
In the last two and a half year during my master studies, I have been researching about different aspects of the concept of playing. This have led me to understand that playing is food for the soul. When I was invited to participate, I wanted to focus on the proverb that says You shall not play with your food and I decided to rebel against it and do the opposite. Since the pieces are all different from each other, I created families and connected them through movements: swinging, rolling and shaking. My main aim was to challenge people to enjoy the table as if it would be a playground.


Steinbeisser experimental Gastronomy using the Plates from Eva Burton in Amsterdam


Describe your work in 3 words!
Made with love.


What kind of materials do you use and where do you get them from?
I have a huge collection of fragments of found objects like furniture and musical instruments, which I collected from all around the globe, and that I use in my assemblages. I am a irremediable Diógenes! I also use wood that I collect from the forest in Idar-Oberstein and then carve myself. For the last few years I have also been immersed in the world of stone-madness. I select the stones from diverse places here in the village and sometimes I exchange stones with other colleagues.


What are you working on right now?
My thesis for a master in fine arts. I am bloody nervous and of course super excited.


What excites you about tomorrow?
I am a very curious person so luckily I am able to find excitement in the very little things. I am looking forward to my graduation and to jump in the water of new experiences. Cooperating with other artists. Setting up my own workshop and finally going to live together again with my husband Andrés and my cat Tilo.


What has been your favourite dinner experience?
I come from a family that loves to cook. When we gather it is like an endless buffet, starting with appetisers, going through different main courses and desserts to end up drinking mate, laughing, singing and enjoying to be together. But since I live so far away from my beloved homeland, friends are like my pillars, and besides being magnificent souls, they also love to cook and when we get together the table turns into a rainbow, full of colourful flavours!


Steinbeisser experience 2017 in Saratoga, Photo by Eric Wolfinger


What further ambitions do you have?
Definitely, I want to continue working in collaborations, because I find this so enriching. The exchange of ideas and perspectives is fundamental to reaching a harmonic interaction. I also want to continue working interdisciplinary and intercultural, strengthening the bridge that connects Latin America with the rest of the world.


Which are your 3 favourite pieces from Jouw…?
The Calabash Spoons by Tala Yuan, the Wall-E Plate by Tatjana Giorgadse and the Wine Glasses by Jochen Holz.
 

About the Interviewee

Eva Burton is a contemporary jewellery maker living and working in Germany. Born in Buenos Aires, she started exploring the world at an early age. Her fascination for ancient pre-hispanic cultures lead her to Mexico where she started making jewellery. She is always seeking for new ways of expression and playing is a fundamental aspect in her life and in her artistic creations.
 

About the author

Why not enjoy the beautiful pieces on this website instead of reading a boring text about who we are? The pieces pretty much speak for themselves. But in case you would like to know more about us, well then carry on reading!

You might wonder why the name Jouw…?
Well, first of all this initiative was created by Jouw Wijnsma and Martin Kullik. But most importantly jouw in Dutch means your, and perhaps one of the unique pieces might become yours!

In 2012 Steinbeisser launched the Experimental Gastronomy initiative that brings together renowned chefs and artists for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. Artists create unique cutlery and dishware that celebrates experimentation. Driven by a search for new ways to enjoy food, these pieces don’t follow the normal rules of usability. Instead, they challenge you to reconsider preconceptions about the relationship between tableware and the user. They can be loved for their thought-provoking function but also for their beauty.

Yet it is not only about beauty, we also believe in sustainability. That’s why all the pieces are crafted only from natural materials, such as wood, calabash, stone, metal, clay and glass. Often sourced locally and using materials that are found, recycled and/or reused. Even the smaller parts of the pieces such as glue, paint and glazing, are organic and biodegradable.