Before Ascend (2024)

"Before Ascend" came out of a moment of pure intuition. I just started by carving two random lines into the steel, and suddenly, a bird appeared. The wings, branches, and the nest followed almost instinctively. I remember seeing a swallow spreading its wings before taking off and flying—perhaps for balance or to prepare for its journey south, amidst the leaves turning autumnal. The entire engraving process took just twenty minutes. I carved it quickly, with rather unfiltered movements that shaped the composition, and later created the textured patina through controlled oxidation. The rust adds depth and an autumn-like variation to the surface. This piece reflects the contrast between the solid, industrial nature of steel and the spontaneous act of creating the image—for me, an image that captures an atmosphere of departure before dawn. It was first exhibited at 48 Stunden Neukölln Kunstfestival 2024.