Alen Marić

Di Spirito, Maria

Metalworker

©Ammar Marić

Joyful metal

Alen combines traditional and modern forms of blacksmithing
His homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina is his source of inspiration
He values the functional purpose of every work he creates

We are all blacksmiths of our own happiness, says Alen Marić, a 44-year-old blacksmith from Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The more he works in his workshop, the more he says he likes this saying. “What drives my passion to work with iron lies in the traditional roles of blacksmiths in their communities and the permanence of their objects,” says Alen. “What I strive for is to create joy with my own hands through the pieces I make.” Alen combines traditional blacksmithing and modern craftsmanship, creating unique pieces of interior and exterior design from metal, such as stair railings, metal furniture and wrought iron lamps. He makes his works by hand forging and metal processing.

Interview

©Ammar Marić

©Ammar Marić

Where do you get your inspiration from?: I try to merge modern with the old style of metal forms from various cultures. Nature and life are the biggest catalysts for my work. I live in the most beautiful environment where the natural world is intertwined with the urban.
What is little known about your work?: I view myself as a translator of a vision into form or work. Ultimately, it’s an art form, an old raw craft of forging combined with modern design techniques, that creates magic for the viewer’s eyes.
What is a memorable moment from your professional life?: I am most happy when I see enthusiasm and fulfilled expectations in the eyes of my clients, confirmation that I have fulfilled their wishes and created their ideas. These are moments to remember.
What advice would you give to young blacksmiths?: I would tell them to produce quality work, to work according to the rules of the craft, take care of even small aesthetic details so that in the end the project as a whole satisfies its aesthetic and functional purpose.

Alen Marić is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1996