Alexandr Kogay

Few possess the gift of understanding what beauty truly is, and even fewer can bring it into existence. Iron, one of the most abundant elements on Earth, has become humanity's servant through the skillful craftsmanship of metalworkers.

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During a summer break in Kazakhstan, I was engrossed in playing with Legos on the carpet in our apartment while my grandfather read a book aloud called "In the World of Metals." Little did I know that this moment would ignite a lifelong passion for metals within me.

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From that point on, I began to view the world through a different lens. I started to perceive the omnipresence of metals around us, either as raw materials or as components of tools and structures.

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As time went on, I found myself at the age of sixteen volunteering at a blacksmith shop. There, I witnessed the profound meaning behind the phrase "anything is possible." The master blacksmith possessed an extraordinary talent for shaping iron to his will. Observing him work diligently at the anvil, with eyes that understood beauty and hands that knew the secrets of iron, left a lasting impression on me. He was a true metal artist, able to strike the glistening piece of iron in just the right places and with perfect force to form intricate creations like birds, flowers, scrolls, or anything he desired. Witnessing the power of a true craftsman at work was nothing short of miraculous.

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From that moment on, a dream was born within me.