Barrel-making was for many centuries a strong tradition in a coastal area of Croatia where I grew up. However, within only few decades, barrel-making faded away completely, when plastic and stainless steel replaced wooden barrels as cheaper and more practical solutions. At the same time, awareness of local food traditions began to rise.
I used barrel-making (also known as coopering) as starting point in search for both new forms of expression, as well as new functions and uses. Through evolution of centuries-old technique I was hoping to create new interest in tradition and sense of local identity it represents. And yes, I like Hayao Miyazaki.
Wooden food smoker is both a storytelling piece, as well as usable piece of outdoor kitchen equipment. As a functional piece, it corresponds to contemporary trends of reviving food as social event, and desire to explore new tastes in ingredients. Lastly, the object contains a somewhat ironic character trait when it comes to invented tradition, and I can imagine scenario where it would be deliberately falsely presented as an actual historical piece of kitchenware.
Ceramic fire-pit (which you don’t see on photos but you will soon) was made by Croatian artist Mladen Ivančić.
Photos by Biba Šehović Jelušić and Martin Gustavsson.
