Ana Albert
We met Ana Albert a few months ago in her studio in Carabanchel, Madrid. A former mechanic's workshop is now a workspace for the architecture and art collective Casa Antillón and a exhibition and cultural events venue.
Ana is dedicated to jewellery from experimental parameters. Her work is characterised by the connection of shapes that can fit, like a puzzle, with certain parts of the body. Thus, she configures pieces that challenge the pre-established in classical jewellery and reviews the standard way of embellishing our anatomy.
How would you describe your art?
I like working with my hands, being a craftswoman. I discovered jewellery in my last year of industrial design, finding a balance between technical drawing and manual techniques.
I like to take into consideration the material conditions and its requirements. I enjoy the process and I like to be patient and dedicate myself to each piece.
The first lockdown gave me the time to launch a clothing brand with a friend. From the playfulness and enjoyment, we started to make patchwork designs and we created a network that has supported our project and motivated us to continue creating.
What does inspire you?
Everyday life. I am inspired by relationships, by human communication. Translating such abstract parameters into jewellery is always a very interesting challenge to face.
What is being a woman for you?
Being a woman shouldn't be a global concept, there are all kinds of experiences and realities. I do think, however, that being cyclical is implicit in our nature and allow us to be more empathetic. Women normally have very close, frontal relationships, in which care is fundamental.
What do you celebrate about being a woman?
Sorority, our capacity to be with each other.
In the last years, mutual support is being absolutely essential for me.
How do you feel about being a woman in the art industry?
Women are subjected to a whole series of pressures that result, on countless occasions, in insecurities when facing a hostile professional world that tends to silence us.
Photos by Mercedes Polo Portillo ©
