Dear Akis, how do we learn with objects?

Par Akis Goumas, in conversation with Ben Lignel

| 59"" | ENG

Description

Our second guest is Greek goldsmith Akis Goumas. Akis has been collaborating since 2006 with a group of archeologists to studying Mycenean metalwork from 1700-1500BC. He describes his work as one of learning by errors, informed by the partial destruction of artefacts and the microscopic traces of making still to be found on the surface of pre-historical objects. It started, he says, by unlearning what he knew, and teaching himself the mouvement done by a craftsperson – the mouvement that could have produced this object. This iterative process has transformed, on the way, how he thinks about teaching.

Biographie de.s intervenant.e(s)

Akis Goumas self-defines as a contemporary jewelry maker and also a researcher in ancient goldsmithing techniques of the Aegean region. He first trained as an economist, then as a jeweller and goldsmith. He studied gemmology, worked for a jewelry company, and in the 2000s, set up on his own. Since then, he has been teaching jewelry as a visiting or permanent teacher at the “Eric  Robbert” Chalkis Jewellery school, Alchimia, in Florence, and Anamma, in Athens. Since 2006 he collaborates with a  group of archaeologists studying and researching:
1. Prehistoric metal technologies of the Aegean region, working at the National Archaeological Mueum of Athens and the Cycladic Museum of Art.
2. Hellenistic goldsmithing techniques at the Benaki Museum of Athens and
3. Minoan sealstone engraving at the University of Heidelberg.

A few days prior to our conversation, he received news that his group was awarded a fellowship in the form of a participation to the visiting artist program at the Center of Hellenic Studies of the Harvard University.