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Ahmad Alqam turns wood and resin into creative pieces
By Huda Dabeet, Jordan News
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AMMAN — Jordanian artisan and interior designer Ahmad Alqam seeks to create decorative items from unused wood and other materials. He started creating artworks while studying interior design, and via Internet research, he learned more about sculpting, resin, and other materials he uses.اضافة اعلان
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
“I started in 2013; I wanted to learn more about epoxy resin, but it was not available in Jordan at the time, so I brought it in from outside and began experimenting with it,” Alqam told Jordan News.
He uses wood founded in Jordan, to which he adds a decorative layer of epoxy resin to form decorative items, he said.
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
Epoxy resin is a chemically created substance made up of two components, epoxy and hardener, which are combined to change the liquid into a solid. It was initially used to insulate floors and is known for its strength. Resin is shaped using molds, either wood or silicone. It started being available in Jordan about two years ago.
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
The artisan creates decorative items by repurposing wood.
“I start my work by conceiving the item, then I start collecting the materials that will be used,” Alqam said, adding that he brings wood from the Ministry of Agriculture, cleans, and treats it before working on it.
“My main purpose is to make use of leftover wood in Jordan,” the artisan mentioned.
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
Alqam uses a saw and other equipment to mold the wood into the shape he wants. Then he cleans it and applies other materials on it once it has dried entirely. Because the procedure is carried out in many steps, it might take up to a month to produces an artwork.
Once the components are completely dry, the piece is removed from the mold and the wood sanding process begins. At the end of the procedure, the wood is treated with specific oils and wax, and the epoxy resin is coated with polish.
“Wax is used for wood to protect it, paint is used for the epoxy resin to make it shine,” Alqam said.
He creates chairs, tables, vases, plates and a variety of decorative items; his degree in interior design has helped his career in a variety of ways, in designing and creating shapes, as well as in the manner in which to choose the pieces of furniture or decorative items to fit the space.
Alqam said he had to learn how to use the materials all by himself.
“There were numerous difficulties in terms of employing resources and materials, therefore I ruined a lot of material and suffered losses at first,” he said.
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
In his first exhibition, held at Dar Al-Anda, in Jabal Lweibdeh, in 2018, he displayed more than 40 artworks; on the tables exhibited he used charcoal, fish and sea stones.
“Creative works are unique pieces that is incredibly difficult to reproduce, especially when natural wood and unique materials are used,” he said.
Alqam would hold workshops, in 2020, for people interested to know about resin and its use, but while at the beginning there were interested people, with time their number decreased due to the high price of the materials.
He also uses social media platforms such as YouTube to create educational content that aims to spread knowledge about resin.
Read more Lifestyle
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
“I started in 2013; I wanted to learn more about epoxy resin, but it was not available in Jordan at the time, so I brought it in from outside and began experimenting with it,” Alqam told Jordan News.
He uses wood founded in Jordan, to which he adds a decorative layer of epoxy resin to form decorative items, he said.
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
Epoxy resin is a chemically created substance made up of two components, epoxy and hardener, which are combined to change the liquid into a solid. It was initially used to insulate floors and is known for its strength. Resin is shaped using molds, either wood or silicone. It started being available in Jordan about two years ago.
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
The artisan creates decorative items by repurposing wood.
“I start my work by conceiving the item, then I start collecting the materials that will be used,” Alqam said, adding that he brings wood from the Ministry of Agriculture, cleans, and treats it before working on it.
“My main purpose is to make use of leftover wood in Jordan,” the artisan mentioned.
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
Alqam uses a saw and other equipment to mold the wood into the shape he wants. Then he cleans it and applies other materials on it once it has dried entirely. Because the procedure is carried out in many steps, it might take up to a month to produces an artwork.
Once the components are completely dry, the piece is removed from the mold and the wood sanding process begins. At the end of the procedure, the wood is treated with specific oils and wax, and the epoxy resin is coated with polish.
“Wax is used for wood to protect it, paint is used for the epoxy resin to make it shine,” Alqam said.
He creates chairs, tables, vases, plates and a variety of decorative items; his degree in interior design has helped his career in a variety of ways, in designing and creating shapes, as well as in the manner in which to choose the pieces of furniture or decorative items to fit the space.
Alqam said he had to learn how to use the materials all by himself.
“There were numerous difficulties in terms of employing resources and materials, therefore I ruined a lot of material and suffered losses at first,” he said.
A photo collection work by Ahmad Alqam. (Photos: Handout from Ahmad Alqam)
In his first exhibition, held at Dar Al-Anda, in Jabal Lweibdeh, in 2018, he displayed more than 40 artworks; on the tables exhibited he used charcoal, fish and sea stones.
“Creative works are unique pieces that is incredibly difficult to reproduce, especially when natural wood and unique materials are used,” he said.
Alqam would hold workshops, in 2020, for people interested to know about resin and its use, but while at the beginning there were interested people, with time their number decreased due to the high price of the materials.
He also uses social media platforms such as YouTube to create educational content that aims to spread knowledge about resin.
Read more Lifestyle
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