Looking for a unique handmade Christmas gift or decoration? You can give the world in the palm of your hand with a micro sculpture says NAOMI LEACH
Christmas is almost upon us. If you’re struggling to come up with a present idea which is as unique as the person you’d like share it with, fear not, a small piece of artwork could be the answer. ‘Good things come in small packages,’ or so the old adage goes, be it gadget or an item of jewellery, the smaller it is the more valuable it is deemed. But Cyprus-based artist Max Marulli de Barletta goes one step further, creating the world in miniature with his wearable micro sculptures. The handmade creations include Christmas decorations, rings, earrings, necklaces and even a chess board.
“I like the fact you can hold the whole world in the palm of your hand. I can make weird structures that you’d never be able to make, things that are architecturally unsound but you can make on such a small scale. I once held an exhibition of small houses so that you would feel like Gulliver. It’s all about scale and perspective. Fantasy combined with a love of architecture inspires me to makes micro sculpture and to make small worlds,” explains Max.
Inspired by Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, Max creates fantastical towering structures in vibrant colours which can be worn as jewellery. He has a fantasy background and was once employed to paint the miniature models for the Games Workshop magazine in the UK. The artist studied Fine Art at Kingston upon Thames university then travelled the world as a buyer of fine food. Max says he has always painted and is now excited to be able to immerse himself in Cyprus’ artistic scene. He moved to the island 18 months ago with his Cypriot wife and opened Small World earlier this month.
The shop is based in Old Nicosia just a few paces from Ledra Street. Max chose this location as he loves the creative atmosphere the old city has to offer. “The buildings here are beautiful, it suits an artistic frame of mind. There is so much scope for a bohemian culture in the old city,” he enthuses.
Small World houses a selection of Max’s micro sculptures plus illustrations and photographic prints by visiting artists. Max aims to bring the creative process to the shop and will make work in-store, inviting passersby to drop in.
“I don’t like the fact shops that sell jewellery and handmade things are in a retail environment. Each piece is completely different, I couldn’t recreate individual artwork. I believe every time you buy an artwork you should have chance to meet the person who made it because otherwise it becomes an empty purchase,” he says.
Max takes on commissions and pre-made jewellery items can be purchased in store. He divides this work into two categories ‘extreme wearable art’ and ‘extreme unwearable art’. His larger extreme rings are statement pieces designed for one off events such as red carpet affairs or weddings. These pieces, which are on exhibit at Nicosia Art Centre, will be entered into international jewellery competitions and can be seen at next April’s Larnaca Fashion Week.
Smaller pieces and handmade Christmas baubles are designed to be “completely individual gifts to take to other people during the festive season”.
Max makes the baubles by adding clay and papermache to classic baubles and designing a unique decorative theme. The jewellery is made with paper, varnish, glue, sand and lots of resin.
“Not using metal gives you a huge possibility. You could never make anything like these with metal. Paper is such a free flowing, readily available material,” he explains.
The larger rings take about seven hours to create over couple of days, once Max has designed the concept sketches. Large extreme rings start at €65 while smaller ones are a more affordable €35. Individual baubles cost €6.
Small World specialises in creating the perfect gifts not only for Christmas but also as wedding favours and for christenings. Max, who married in Cyprus this summer, was surprised by the functionless wedding favours often given out and kept in boxes by guests.
“These are wedding favours for those wanting to give something artistic and a bit different. Why give something they can’t use? It’s better to give something they can display in their house not just put in a drawer,” he smiles.
Small World
26 Megalou Alexandrou, Nicosia www.mdbd.co Open Saturdays 9:00 – 14:00 Open week days on request 99 774783
