THE OBJECT AS OBSERVER OF CHANGE WITH YASMIN BAWA

June 20, 2024

Yasmin Bawa's creations surpass the traditional distinctions between object and observer, drawing us into a shared experience where both hold equal significance. Utilizing hempcrete, an eco-friendly substitute for conventional building materials, her sculptures echo a narrative rooted in strength, renewability, sustainability, and versatility. Inspired by spatial topology, Yasmin Bawa employs natural materials and traditional hand-building techniques, unfolding a narrative through a layered creative process. Her work not only tells a compelling story but also embodies a commitment to environmental consciousness and innovative design.

“I have found a very deep connection to the material, and the nature of the material lends itself to the form I want to create. Working with my hands corresponds to my body’s natural rhythms, which I believe translates into the organic feel of the final piece. […]

I wanted to create objects that are not just put in the corner and forgotten about, but that the user feels they want to move them around, change the angle, change the function. Maybe at one point they are blending in, and at another they are the centre of attention.”

— Yasmin Bawa

 

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      Yasmin Bawa

      Yasmin Bawa is a British-American sculptor whose practice is rooted in natural materials, traditional hand-building techniques, and an intuitive approach to form. She studied fashion in London and worked in the industry for several years before turning fully to sculpture. After nearly a decade in Berlin developing her practice, she recently relocated to the Ardèche region of southern France, where she now lives and works among mountains and rivers. 

      At the core of her work is hemp lime, a compound of hemp shiv and lime binder used to sculpt the main structure of each piece. This is layered with successive coats of lime plaster and finished by hand using a polishing technique inspired by Moroccan tadelakt. Yasmin’s forms are curved, organic, and quietly present. They sit between sculpture and object, created as much to be lived with as to be observed. Her work explores ideas of roots, identity, and belonging, shaped by a life lived across cultures and landscapes.

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