METRO= HANDMADE
#1 CONRAD HICKS - BLACKSMITH
Artist, blacksmith and tool-maker, Conrad Hicks produces hand-forged metalwork using traditional blacksmithing methods.
He sees all of his work, from the most functional to the purely sculptural, as tools. “A blacksmith is a tool-maker: whether the tool is used to cut or to communicate, they hold the values of our society, represent our cultural achievement and become sacred objects.”
Conrad’s artistic practice is an instinctive search for beauty. He intuitively allows his materials and labour-intensive process to determine the final form of his sculptures. In the process of cutting, pressing, heating, hammering and stretching metal, he discovers a language that calls to mind ancient art forms. Expressive and highly textured, his sculptural pieces have an intimate connection with nature, even as many veer towards abstraction.
Opened in 1991, Conrad's forge is housed in The Bijou, an old Art Deco cinema in Observatory, Cape Town.
METRO= BLACKSMITH'S SHIRT
Conrad wanted a shirt that could handle the rough nature of the forge, but also something good looking enough to wear out. We chose corduroy for it's strength and flexibility; cut it in our signature shirt fit, adding extra pockets and elbow patches for its tough life in the workshop.
Our Blacksmith's shirt features a square collar with a loop closure on the collar stand, 2 chest pockets and elbow patches as well as hard wearing metal jean buttons, and is a METRO= bestseller that we constantly keep making more of.
"It has become my favourite piece of clothing, it fits like a glove and I have become attached to it - it feels like me.
I have a few pieces of clothing that I wasn't to wear all the time, and this is the main one. I will get another one exactly the same soon!'
“A blacksmith is a tool-maker: whether the tool is used to cut or to communicate, they hold the values of our society, represent our cultural achievement and become sacred objects.”
THE TOOL ROOM
by CONRAD HICKS
It is the functional products from Conrad's "TOOL ROOM" range that most influence our daily lives; his forged steel pans are in constant use in our kitchen at home, be it for eggs in the morning, stir frying vegetables or searing a steak for dinner: perfect for anything that can possibly be cooked in a pan. We also love his sought after Damascus steel knives and use them constantly.
All our TOOL ROOM items live on the counter, too beautiful to be hidden away; these are our sacred objects.
