Mød et medlem: Lawrence Ebelle
Multi-creativity and handcrafting
“I am a hyper emotionally and sensory-charged individual who expresses herself best through textures, colors and shapes.”
Dette blogindlæg blev første gang publiceret den 08.09.2020
Lawrence er en spraglet kvinde, og ligesådan er hendes arbejdsfelt. Hun kuraterer rum og skræddersyer design - en jobbetegnelse, som hun har arbejdet på i hele 10 år. Dette giver os et praj om, hvor svært det er at fastholde Lawrence i en velafgrænset ramme. Oprindeligt er hun uddannet arkitekt, men bruger i dag sine mange talenter i sit alsidige håndværksarbejde. I 2004 stiftede hun virksomheden Curated Works, hvor hun sammenvæver hendes interesse for bl.a. farver, former og materialer i et, som hun selv nævner i interviewet, æstetisk laboratorium.
Lawrence er aktuel på dette års kulturfestival ÅBEN, som løber af stablen den 11.-13. september. Her kan man får muligheden for at være med, når Lawrence tryller papir til blomster.
I følgende skal vi møde Lawrence i et interview, som hun har valgt at besvare på engelsk.
Tell us about your background and the journey that lead you to starting your own business?
I am educated as an architect and started my professional career at the Art Institute of Chicago while living in the States. A few years later I moved to Europe and worked at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris where I was the ‘Jack of all trades’ in the architecture department.
I think that my career's start within a museum is how and why I thrive working with space curation. I have also a huge respect for the arts and crafts and I am a hyper emotionally and sensory-charged individual who expresses herself best through textures, colors and shapes. This infatuation with materiality is brought to life through Curated Works’ bespoke designs.
Curated Works is the curation studio I established back in 2004. As a multi-faceted designer, a hobby bookbinder, a cellist and a paper flower craftsman, Curated Works is the place where these disciplines can be intertwined / woven together. Curated Works is the creative playground and aesthetic laboratory where my versatility gets conspicuous.
“As a multi-faceted designer, a hobby bookbinder, a cellist and a paper flower craftsman, Curated Works is the place where these disciplines can be intertwined / woven together.”
What is the best and the worst part about being an entrepreneur?
Since I took the leap of faith of working independently I haven’t regretted it. There is obviously a stress factor to not know whether I can make ends meet but I get uplifted on so many other levels and aspects of my professional life that today I think it was all worth it.
The worst I experienced was not a financial one though. It was a bad collaboration where I thought a positive synergy would occur and which unfortunately ended up in a childish competition about being in the spotlight or being credited for a project that should have showcased a co-created scenography ...
Never again...I hope. Thank you.
Since then, I’ve woken up, smelt the coffee and today, the best thing about working as a creative entrepreneur is that I can do it (most of the time), on my own terms. I have the privilege to be able to select the projects I want to be involved in as well as being able to handpick the people I want to be surrounded or collaborate with. It’s exciting, enriching, uplifting... I get the chance to bring ideas to life and design my own creative endeavors.
Why are you a part of Villa Kultur?
Villa Kultur is one of the best things that happened to me. I’ve known the old mansion for years because my husband’s atelier is located a stone’s throw away from it. I came to the villa to see all kind of events and I remember a beautiful photo exhibition curated by two foreign artists prior to the villa’s conversion into a hub for creative entrepreneurs. As soon as I found an opportunity to being a part of this unique community I contacted them and offered my time and competences.
Being part of Villa Kultur - besides the fact that I enjoy the most beautiful surroundings and nature while working - provides me with potential sparring partners. This unique cocktail triggers my creativity to say the least.
At Villa Kultur everything is within reach; from graphic designers to fellow architects and designers to culinary wizards, culture journalists, talented photographers, experience designers and more. In a nutshell, kindred spirits!
“Being part of Villa Kultur - besides the fact that I enjoy the most beautiful surroundings and nature while working - provides me with potential sparring partners.”
Moreover, generosity and co-creation are keywords at Villa Kultur and all members try to support one another. At least it’s what I aim to do. I want to give back as I’ve received so much since I came along.
A funny anecdote or memory from the villa?
Last year’s Halloween party was amazing. I had a blast. The villa was just the perfect setting / backdrop to host a party in costume and create the proper ghostly atmosphere. Our in-house writer , Morten Brask, had written a story about a haunted mansion where maids and guests were locked up in the villa’s basement. It was genuinely scary but we had so much fun. I am really looking forward to the next party!
What are one of the things you are the most proud of having done or accomplished?
I was really proud to work on the interior design and refurbishment of one of Copenhagen City Hall’s prestigious rooms back in 2008. At the time I was working as an architect and exhibition designer at a creative agency downtown and we ended up getting this one of a kind assignment. I teamed up with Jesper Sønderaas who is the creative talent who was instrumental in developing the winning concept. When the project was completed and we delivered it to then Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard I was ecstatic and in awe. As a foreigner being able to leave a little piece of me in such an emblematic venue in beloved Copenhagen was beyond amazing.
“As a foreigner being able to leave a little piece of me in such an emblematic venue in beloved Copenhagen was beyond amazing.”
It was an epiphany, my very own walk of fame with the footprints and the hands on Hollywood Boulevard. I even asked to be married in this room and I did! When I told family and friends that they were actually standing in the room I revamped, it was a knock out. They were thrilled. My fifteen minutes of fame.
Where do you find inspiration?
Hum... This is a tricky question as inspiration is everywhere — from the words of my favorite writer to the blooms and leaves on my morning walk to work. I think that in essence, it is about getting out of my comfort zone and getting a change of scenery.
“I listen to others, I try to pay attention to their unique narratives or experiences as they often get my creativity juices flowing.”
I need to open my eyes and breathe it in. It can come from a movie I was not expecting to see or music I usually am not interested in or as founder of Punchy Design, Liz Oz, utters it, it is about finding inspiration in the Not-So-Obvious because inspiration basically lurkes below the surface of so many things and people. In that respect, I listen to others, I try to pay attention to their unique narratives or experiences as they often get my creativity juices flowing.
Your no. 1 advice for people dreaming about starting their own business and pursuing their dreams?
Do it! Have the guts to take that journey. Yes, it is a bit scary to enter that unknown territory but so rewarding and uplifting eventually. Another thing is that working independently doesn’t mean that you can cover all the areas of your company and acknowledging that you might need help on specific tasks gears you to create a viable business.
Any new projects in the pipeline that you can tell us about?
I am currently working on a project for the upcoming Night of Culture (Kulturnat). It will be an ubiquitous installation at the French Embassy and the French Cultural Institute in Copenhagen.
On a more personal note, I am also developing a sustainable stationery and bookbinding line as bookbinding is one of my other passions. For at long time, I have wanted to design archive folders, notebooks, sketch books etc... with recycled paper and cardboard upholstered with naturally dyed yarn and fabric scraps, textiles leftovers from textile manufacturers and the apparel industry. It is a work in progress.
A time-consuming one but I aim at having the first prototypes ready by the end of the year.
Thank you so much for the interview, Lawrence!
I kan finde Lawrences event til ÅBEN festivalen som del af OASENs program her, og ellers kan I følge med hendes arbejde på hendes Instagram og hjemmeside.