Wood is my "imprinting" , so materials and design are connected in my way of working. Simone Frabboni interviewed by Klimt02

What's local and universal in your artistic work?
My most well-known work is wood jewelry, and the majority of the wood I use is from local, in the sense, it’s not commercial wood and not from the market. Mostly it comes from the area where I live, the Appennini, hills and mountains between Bologna and Firenze, but it also comes from friends’ places or during my travels (and a very little part from other craftsmen who had closed their business).
So that the wood I use is local to me, which means it is connected with a specific territory, and it is a fruit of a relationship that I have with a place or with somebody. In my work it is alive, I imagine that piece of wood was a tree some time ago.
On the contrary, universal in my work is research and communication.
My jewelry making is a way to search for new ideas, to communicate and to express myself. I am not a person who talks a lot but artistic jewelry is a way to communicate without a word, express myself, meet new people and build relationships. I love the idea that my jewels can communicate and make people communicate as well, and I don’t need to talk or even to be presented!


What do you expect when you show your work to the public (for example, with an exhibition)?
I look for exchange with people, the public and experts, it’s interesting to know what they think of my work, their reactions, the faces when somebody sees a new piece.
I expect to let my work be known, after a lot of time alone in my workshop, it’s a way to share my results. I love to meet people during the events, new friendships or interesting exchanges with colleagues, public or people who work in the area will happen sometimes. Of course, I also expect to sell my pieces, because it’s my job and this is essential to keep it being my job.


How important is handmade for you in your development? What role does techniques and technology play in your development?
My work is based both on handcraft and new technologies, but for sure traditional handcraft and ancient art techniques come first.
As I started making jewelry from wood, inspiration and techniques are really connected in my work. Wood doesn’t let you go back, you can only move further, and it has a strong influence on what you are doing.
Wood is my imprinting, so materials and design are connected in my way of working.
New technologies to me are a more complementary part, for instance, I use laser engraving to finish wood jewels, or I search for new kind of materials, mostly are resins: I am working more and more with ecological resins, they are made out of plants or recycled plastic. The research of resin has developed a lot, and it also has influenced my research.


Are there any other areas besides the jewels present in your work?
Lots of things involved in my work are about wood: sculpture, ancient wood arts and restoration. I worked as a wood art restorer, so I know a lot of ancient techniques and I have been influenced a lot by the art of Gothic and Renaissance period.
I use products that have been used from centuries, like lac, sealing wax and dyeing that is called dragonblood. This one was also used in witchcraft!
Also, nature has a strong impact on my work: as an inspiration and in my way of working, using wood and sustainable materials. In addition, I try to live in a sustainable way. So, I can’t see my work separates from my life.
In general, I have a strong connection between my life experiences and my work. For instance, my last work Atlantis is made out of shells, because I spent one year living in Canary Islands and more than one month travelling back to Italy by car, the journey went through Portugal and the North of Spain, along the ocean, together with my partner and our dogs. After one year away from my woods, I was using shells from Portugal and skateboard wood to create, as I am still skating. I really can’t see my work separates from my life, from what I love and influences me.


How important is wearability in contemporary jewellery? And in your pieces?
I think that wearability is very important, to let people wear your jewels often. But sometimes you have to be free and don’t care about it!


The last work, book, film, city that moved me was…
City: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where I started to surf.
Film: Border, by Ali Abbasi, a very different film, original, true, strong and delicate at the same time.
Book: Paolo Cognetti, Le otto montagne, a novel about mountain and life.
Work: The Winter by Arcimboldo.


Which piece of work gave you more satisfaction?
3500 a collection I made in bog oak, a wood of 3500 years old: I found it together with my partner, I had the intuition that it could be so old and carbon14 analysis has confirmed it was.


What is your source to get information?
Klimt02, fairs, museums and exhibitions around the world, social networks.


Can you describe your personality in 3 words, describe your work in 3 words?
Intuitive, determined, sensitive.