The Magniberg Blacksmith

“In my work, I strive to simplify what is difficult and express what can't be expressed in any other way than through creation. I'm working in the magical zone between metaphysical ideas and physical things. Art, practical and culturally transformed into metal.”

– Alex Lussi

“I sometimes think it feels good to put on clothes within the framework of my own narrative. That reinforces the feeling of being me. But just as often, and perhaps more importantly, I put on attributes that contradict my own or others' narrative of me. By stepping outside the description of ourselves we conquer new descriptions of ourselves.”

– Alex Lussi

Questionnaire Pt.1: Alexander Lussi

Describe yourself in a single sentence?
– I’m a person who not believe or agree on my own description of myself.

What do you do?
– My work is about creating meaning and comprehensibility. I see things that don't exist but have a reason to be, and then I make them visible through my craft. In my work, I strive to simplify what is difficult and express what can't be expressed in any other way than through creation. I'm working in the magical zone between metaphysical ideas and physical things. Art, practical and culturally transformed into metal.

If you wouldn't be a blacksmith, or in another life... What would you do?
– In another life, I think I probably would've been a producer. I've always played and made music with my brothers, but standing on the stage is not for me. Or... I would've been a Diver. I've always liked the feeling of being weightless.

Do you listen to music when you work?
– I listen to music when I work. I know that I'm affected by all kinds of impressions I get. Music affects how I think, create and work. Despite knowing about this and the benefits it would mean for me to vary a lot more, it is mostly techno that rolls in the headphones. It's often monotone which gives a good flow when working. But when my brother is here, I get free piano concerts. He's a pianist, and I've a piano in the workshop. He plays here quite often since our music studio is next door.

If you could give your younger self any advice, what would it be?
– Don't change anything that means you're doing something, do everything in your power to change everything that means you're not doing things. I think for me, in the long run, all valuable insights are insights that have come to me after proven actions.

Your workshop is quite a remarkable space. What do you think makes your place so special?
– It's a magical place that has come to life by cultivating certain ideas and principles. Because my work consists of creating opportunities where I or someone else has seen limitations or obstacles that need to be solved. A principle that's stuck in the walls is that anything is possible. Another that prevails in my workshop is that everything is under constant development.

Things are seldom right or wrong. There are only setbacks in time and space where certain ways of perceiving, thinking or acting, become right just there and then. Next time it may be something completely different. For some time now, my workshop has started to live its own life, previously I could see and take credit for what the workshop meant and its shine, but now I just have to go with it and ride on. Stepping into my workshop is a visit to another universe, a country or place in time with different rules, norms, energies and gravity.

We know you throw legendary parties in your workshop (called Nirvana). Can you tell us what happens on those?
– The first rule, we do not talk about Nirvana. The second rule, we do not talk about Nirvana. Or... Imagine your best childhood memories, when the world was an intersection between what you saw and imagined - when fantasy, creativity and playfulness were in maximum motion. Take this and immerse it in an adult's possibilities and alternatives, then you perhaps get a mediocre described insight into what it is like to have been there.

How do you get an invite?
– Hmm... tricky question. I think that everyone who has been invited has one thing in common... They are extraordinary beautiful people that just have been at the right place at the right time.

Do you hide the Magniberg prototypes during these parties?
– Since it's you asking, of course, I'm hiding the prototypes. Everything else would be inappropriate, unethical and obnoxious. I don't know why I'm saying this but, friends of mine have actually asked me to produce Magniberg pieces for them behind your back... Since it's you I'm talking to, of course, I've never done that. Everything else would be inappropriate, unethical and obnoxious. But the pieces seem to be irresistible.

Questionnaire Pt.2: Alexander Lussi

To what extent do you trust people?
– I trust that most people are designed in a species-appropriate way. This means that they are genetically programmed to look after the needs of others, and the group, for their own long-term gain. In deeply developed relationships with such humans; there are no limits to how far trust and love can take us.

I also think that some people are not adequately designed, the challenge in relationships with others is to, with a warm and hopeful heart, carefully train the ability to identify those who should not be kept closer than their ability to nurture this gift.

What is your most twisted fantasy?
– With what I answered the previous question, I'll try to give you a reasonable answer… I wish my brain was disconnectable and interconnectable. Then I could've a lot of different bodies, with a lot of different skills, that were suited to a lot of different environments, people and things.

What's the weirdest thing you've been asked to craft but said no to do?
– Can you craft one like this, that there are already thousands of and that on the whole is pretty pointless?

What's the weirdest thing you've been asked to craft and said yes to?
– Can you craft one like this, even though it probably doesn't work and that there is nothing like it. The whole thing would be damn mind-blowing?

What do you like to wear?
– In addition to more practical functions such as keeping warm or protecting, clothes have the power of expressing attributes. I love to express attributes. It isn't possible to have clothes or anything else on one's body that doesn't imply attributes with a symbolic meaning. Not for oneself or others. I sometimes think it feels good to put on clothes within the framework of my own narrative. That reinforces the feeling of being me. But just as often, and perhaps more importantly, I put on attributes that contradict my own or others' narrative of me. By stepping outside the description of ourselves we conquer new descriptions of ourselves.

Who would you like to be stuck in an elevator with?
– MacGyver. He has some moves I haven't figured out and learned yet. I think that he's handy enough to fix the elevator quite fast when he has learnt me everything I would like to know.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
– Yes... I'm extremely easy to work with, I've an unusually good ability to juggle many tasks at once, I'm really cheap without compromising on quality. Also, I've insanely good references, I like animals and children, I'm a magical mix of a planner, executioner and deliverer. I'm available on social media (@lussiproductions), sometimes I've the opportunity to take in new jobs. I work well both in groups and individually, I'm not afraid of conflicts or to sort out conflicts, I've an F-tax certificate. Did you get the last one?

“Don’t change anything that means you’re doing something, do everything in your power to change everything that means you're not doing things. I think for me, in the long run, all valuable insights are insights that have come to me after proven actions.”

– Alex Lussi

Photography by Petter Lundgren, Stockholm, 2021.