Interview with Álvaro Wolmer
Alvaro Wolmer is a conceptual artist and designer. He runs a woodworking shop since 1985 where he makes his own creations and the works of other contemporary artists, architects and designers from…
Designer Interview
24 April 2022
I have been designing and making all kinds of things since I was a child. My father had a small set of woodworking tools and used to make some toys for me. He was my first teacher. That was my starting point.
I founded a woodworking shop in 1985, and worked alone for 10 years making custom fine furniture. I worked for architects and for artists making their (and mine) creations.
Design is the materialization of an idea reduced to its fundaments - yes, I am a minimalist.
I have no preference.
The wheel is my favorite design.
I do not design for companies.
Wood, all kinds of metal, CNC machines.
Under big pressure - pressure of any kind.
Reducing the number of parts.
Happiness,
Usefulness.
The form, the number of parts.
All of us, no matter the profession, have the same responsabilities regarding the society an environment. The basic point: things must change dramatically or the human especie is in danger.
The nature must be respected - that changes everything from now on.
I never had a solo exhibition and I am not concerned about it.
I try to solve any kind of daylife problems. Some of them are related to design.
Minimalist. Long lasting solutions.
I live in Brazil. Yes, the cultural heritage of my country affects my designs and I love Brazil very much. The shape of Brazil is a recurrent theme of my creations.
I do not.
Second question: try to find a designer that has a work related to the company's products. First question: A company, any, must have a clear focus. That's the departing point to a conversation with all the people linked to the company.
When I first find, let's say, a cause, I start to search all about the field - the existing solutions, the used materials. At the same time I start do make sketches and 3D models, if it is the case - many models.
Some coat hangers (my design), a red Kennedy Tool Box, the doors hinges, a hammock, an Aeron chair, all the furniture (my furniture).
Very early I leave my house to have a breakfast in a coffee shop - 365 days a year. Then I go to my woodworking shop, where I spend all day. I almost always lunch alone. At 5 pm I go home and stay with my wife and son. A very simple life.
Make things from scratch. Deal with all kinds of materials.
Positives: many. Negatives: none.
Be simple, the most you can.
General culture, knowledge of methods and materials, knowledge of technics of construction related to every material.
I have a woodworking and metal shop, which helps a lot. I also have two very skilled artisans, master woodworkers that work with me for 23 and 30 years.
It's a really consuming task that I love - I really like to create something from scratch.
Months in some cases, years (one or two) in others.
How much time do you need to find a solution for the problem?
Find forms to tranform an artist's idea to an object. I colaborate with important Brazilian an foreign artists. In some cases I found the definitive form to the artist.
Brazilian and foreigner architects, designers and artists.
I like to solve difficult problems, no matter what.
I am considering to move to a small city - I live in Sao Paulo - and open a small store to sell my design.
By e-mail: a@alvarowolmer.com.br
No, thanks.