Interview with Maria Hees

Do you think that jewelry is being standardized? What is there of local and universal in your artistic work?
Jewelry will never be totally standardized. Of course there are trends which come and go. But there are so many different starting points to design a piece of jewelry. Besides there will always be people who want to distinguish themselves by wearing jewelry. I myself belong to that category and I try to design that kind of jewelry and therefore find my inspiration in new materials and techniques.

What do you expect when exposing your work to the public (for example with an exhibition)?
By exposing my work I hope that people like my pieces and feel happy and self-confident by wearing it.

Are other areas besides the jewelry, present in your work?
Yes, I also design bags and small objects 

The last work, book, film, that has moved me was...
Life of Pi , the fascinating book and brilliant film completed each other. 

A place, space, country whose creativity surprises me...
3 times I was in Mali, Ségou, and worked with local craftsmen and women. Specially working with the blacksmith was very inspiring, we perfectly understood each other.

Is there any designer, jeweler, artist, you appreciate a lot?
There are more than one: Calder, Anish Kapoor, Issey Miyake, Piero della Francesca, ethnic jewelry 

What piece or work has given you the most satisfaction?
Fortunately until now, it still happens..
The very first piece was the Magnifying brooch. A brooch which enlarges the structure of the material of the clothes you wear.