The series of vases are made of genuine leather that underwent various manipulations resulting from the material study of leather as a raw material. The work examines the hidden qualities and historical baggage of leather in relation to the principle of “truth to material,” according to which every material has an essential and natural quality that should be present in the work.

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The leather underwent several types of manipulation: human manipulation—drawing parallels between the animal hide and human skin using the needle tattoo technique; technological manipulation—a combination of computerized design with laser etching technology on a traditional bolt of leather; and natural manipulation— creating patterns through the natural reaction of wet leather to a metallic material.

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The hidden values of the leather stem from historical-cultural contexts and conflicts. Starting from its being the first textile from the time of prehistoric man, through leather’s material connections as an organic and perishable raw material to socio-cultural connections, when leather symbolizes prestige, wealth, and luxury. The work vacillates between closeness and distance from the term “truth to material”—it is a tribute to leather’s material uniqueness and properties (such as color, texture, consistency, and layers); and at the same time, moves away from this uniqueness through the use of different techniques.

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