Welder Alexander Ivleva about the possibilities of the metal and his vocation
IN RUBRIC "BUSINESS" we introduce readers to women of different professions and hobbies that we like or are simply interested in. In this issue we talked with welder and metal designer Alexandra Ivleva, who made a sculpture of a giant cat meditating for the Moscow International Flower and Garden Festival Moscow Flower Show. Sasha told us about the reaction of others to her choice of profession, participation in the Miss Welding contest, the versatility of the metal, and also explained why productivity is important for the sculptor.
I started welding seven years ago. Just realized that I like metal. My father is a design engineer, all his life he is professionally engaged in welding and works with metal. He made many complex designs - from stairs to cars. I was always admired by his work, I saw that for him metal was like plasticine and he could turn any structure in the other direction in three seconds. When I came to him at a conscious age and said: listen, dad, I want to make lights here, teach, - he smiled: "Well, of course, Sash!" He was very pleased and taught me how to work with power tools, semi-automatic and gas welding, the very principle of welding. I did my first works under Daddy’s beginning, and still he advises me.
I am a third-degree certified electric and gas welder. I spent three years in Moscow Polytechnic College No. 31. I came to the director with the words “I want to study with you,” she told me what I was doing, and I was immediately accepted. I studied with 16-year-old boys, at first they didn’t understand what I was doing here. They called me Alexandra. Then even made friends with someone. The college approach to everyone was the same. In general, I believe that in any specialty everything depends only on yourself. I came not to wipe the chair, but to study. When you are interested in the subject, the teacher himself opens to you and gives all his knowledge. Then I was offered to get a higher education and immediately enter the third year, but I still do not see the need for it. I want to engage in creative work, and the level of welding that I own is sufficient for this. Higher education would be useful if I wanted to work as a welding technologist at a factory.
I always wanted to create something with my own hands - art objects and utilitarian things - and express my attitude through them. I am not an artist, I have no corresponding education, which did not prevent me from painting in oils for three years. I have my first education in general, commodity science and commercial activity, I worked with a warehouse for several years and since then I have been very good at lighting engineering and electricity. My first works, lamps, came from there, I knew this area well and it was interesting for me to make them myself. I still think that highlighting the metal is cool. The meditating cat Tikhvami, whom I made for the Moscow Flower Show festival, will definitely be highlighted from the inside.
Men who think that I'm kind of strange, that a woman should be refined - it's just not my men
At the Moscow Flower Show I was called in the spring, and I decided to make a sculpture that would reflect my inner state. I do not meditate, but I like Hinduism and the way it describes the world order. Tikhvami came to me as a ready-made idea. I could not fall asleep, at some point I sat down on the bed in the lotus position and immediately realized that it would be a big meditating cat, and in this space that the figure between her hands can sit or lie down. Two months later, the cat stood in the park and pleased visitors. I consider myself his mother, Tikhvami is an independent person.
Welding is welding, just someone cooks the pipe, and someone meditating cats. Someone does it out of necessity, and someone because he likes it. Metal is a material with which you can express a lot. When the sculpture of the cat Tikhvami stood in the Park Museon, a tablet was located next to where you could see how I created it. People looked at the cat - at me, at the cat - at me, and then commented: "Well, you must have a woman and were able to make such an inspired creature. We didn’t think that through metal, rods and welding all this could be transmitted." Strength Tikhvami all feel.
Everyone always supported me, they said: class, Sasha, you are a good fellow. Men are usually surprised and admired when they find out that I am a welder, but for some it turns out to be too much. I am glad of such a reaction: it means that they are not my people. I am 29 years old, I'm not married, I have no children and I'm not in a hurry. Men who think that I am kind of strange, that a woman should be refined, be an adornment of life - well, well, it's just not my men.
The work of the welder is really physically difficult. See my biceps? I do not shake hands in the gym, I only run there on the simulators. You will work with welding - and the hands themselves are pumped up. It happens, men tell me, wow you have biceps. Take the same grinder and clean it for half an hour: keep it easy, it vibrates well and weighs appropriately. For an average woman whose work is not related to physical labor, it would be difficult. It's normal for me: I can take a piece of iron and carry it, if it is lifting for me, I can pick up the iron and drag myself. After all, when you do your favorite business, there is no question whether it is difficult or not.
Today it is not fashionable to be a turner, a welder, a plumber - people who do something with their hands. Around solid managers and managers: cool to sit in a clean jacket on a beautiful chair. I think it will change after some time. I think every person is in his own place; perhaps, by my example, I can improve the image of this profession. I would very much like to see the work of the welder considered prestigious. Moreover, our sphere has its own elite - those who are engaged in argon welding: welding cars, airplanes and all super-responsible structures. Such specialists earn good money.
I would like to be the face of a brand that makes welding equipment. In profile advertising, women are regularly filmed, welding suits are worn on them, but they themselves, naturally, do not weld - as usual models. Why not take a picture of me, I'm a real welder. I know very few welding girls. Recently I found a woman of about fifty-five in VKontakte; she buys all kinds of forged items and welds from them roses, flowers, swans. She studied her page, where the children write: "Here is my mother! In her old age she decided to start welding." And the woman is simply interested. I also know that in the USA there is an artist who sculpts huge sculptures from metal debris. But in general, I have never met more welders.
Every year I go to the Weldex International Welding Equipment Exhibition, several times I even participated in their Miss Welding competition, where they give the title of the same name. So, of all the participants, I was always the only one who cooks so much. Typically, girls are engaged in a jeweler, someone works as a welding production technologist, while others are simply managers in a welding company.
I like it when people come into contact with my work, can touch it, twist it or take a picture
I made my first lamp and sold it to the 40th Mile club when I was still living in Sevastopol. Then she made flying birds from metal on the order of one restaurant. My friends bought several lamps from me, and in Moscow I handed them over to the store where they sold handmade goods. In addition, I made tables using a technology that imitates grapevine and wood bark, - my father invented and designed it. Well, all sorts of candy and sculptures with light. Last year, I made a throne for the exhibition “Gardens and People” - landscape sculpture, which was partially covered with grass and flowers. You sit down on the throne, and above you get a crown into which you can insert your head and take a picture. I like to do things that are both utilitarian and carry an idea. I like when people come into contact with my works, they can touch them, twist them or take pictures. I would like to make a whole series of such meditating animals as Tikhvami. So far I enjoy it all and I know that I am doing everything correctly and this should bring me something in return.
At the moment I do not earn a living for welding, on the contrary, I spend my personal money on it. I have a main job that feeds me. I am the director of development for the production of forged products, leading the direction of garden products. My goal is to become a popular artist and metal sculptor, to develop my own stylist, which I am just creating, and to express my ideas and thoughts through my work. I want to exhibit and sell sculptures.
To focus on other artists means to drive oneself into the framework, to evaluate it through another person, “like it or better than he.” I have my own personal path that does not prevent me from admiring other people. For example, there is such an English sculptor Anthony Gormley. He created a huge sculpture of a man with arms, wings, which stood on a hill. In general, I like productive artists, the same Gormley has a lot of sculptures. It is clear that for this he has a workshop and people who help him. It's great when the artist does not do everything himself, but can assemble and organize an entire team, and then make an entire army of sculptures with it. In this sense, I admire Tsereteli, who is often reproached for having a lot of apprentices. Why not? If you have the strength, desire and ability to make sculptures for miles - do it. Productive artists are great.
Photo: Pavel Kryukov, www.alexandra.guru