New to objkt - Clara Ohde
“Maybe I want to find the intersection between my knowledge of industrial design and my artistic side. But perhaps that intersection is, essentially, just me.”
Clara Ohde, 27, is an artist and designer, born and raised in La Plata, a place she considers one of her favorite regions in Argentina. She studied at the National University (UNLP) from 2015 to 2021 and is now part of this institution, teaching Ergonomics and Design. “I have two great passions in life: creating things with my hands and analyzing the objects around me. That’s why I chose Industrial Design — not just as a profession, but as the lens through which I see the world,” Clara explains in an exclusive interview with me for objkt MAG.
Clara started her own bag brand, Gran Pez, at just 17, before even entering university. Young and in need of money, she sewed a backpack and sold it to a friend. For ten years, this was her main job, and now, looking back, Clara reflects: “It’s interesting to see how Industrial Design influenced my brand and helped it grow. In a way, textile objects chose me, because I wasn’t fully aware of what I was starting when I sewed that first backpack.”
Gran Pez - Objetos Textiles by Clara Ohde.
A “daughter” of the Bosque Gracias family
From the tangibility of needle and thread to the digital space, a question arises: when and how did the world of NFTs open up for Clara? From La Plata to Patagonia, Clara became one of the ‘daughters’ of the Bosque Gracias Autumn Art Residency in Epuyén, led by Rocio and Mariano. The residency brings together web3 artists for an immersive experience in nature.
Bosque Gracias combines new technologies, permaculture — a design system aimed at creating sustainable, self-sufficient environments — and artisanal workshops within a coworking setting, all powered by blockchain and promoting onboarding for artists on platforms like objkt. “My experience at the Bosque Gracias Autumn Art Residency was crucial,’ Clara says. ‘The place is magical, and Rocio and Mariano are creative people, dedicated to exploring and expanding possibilities for the artists they invite. There, I found a safe space to bring my boldest ideas to life.”
Clara Ohde in a pottery workshop at @BosqueGracias art residency.
Clara shares that just before the residency, in February 2024, she plunged into the NFT world for the first time. “Argentina is going through a major economic crisis that significantly impacted my business, which led me to seek new opportunities. My partner, Turro, a talented artist and active member of the NFT community, introduced me to this universe. He helped me see the value of my artistic creations beyond just my products.” Clara credits Turro, Rocio, and the Newtro Arts community, which supports emerging NFT artists, for helping her embrace her identity as an artist and now make a living from her art.
More on ceramics, art, and design
Beyond her accessories, Clara’s artistic objects, especially her ceramics, stand out. Her inspirations have materialized in these pieces, rooted in her childhood when she attended art classes for ten years. “I truly delved into ceramics in 2019, when I felt that my career and work in Industrial Design were limiting my creativity. My approach had become overly rational and functional. So, I returned to an art studio to allow myself to create without having to justify my process to anyone,” she confides.
When I asked whether she considers herself more of an artist or a designer, she replies:: “I love that question! I feel like my brain is split into two parts: the designer side, which is hyper-rational and functional, and the artistic side, which thrives on creativity for creativity’s sake, appreciating everything around me.” Clara says that in recent years, she has been deeply immersed in her role as a designer. Now, however, she feels fulfilled with her artistic side, “enjoying the distance from so much rationality.”
Reef. Artist: Clara Ohde. Scan exploration Made during Bosque Gracias Autumn Residency.
In her mind and decision-making process, Clara sees art and design as opposites. “While I’m currently enjoying the joy of art, I believe I will eventually find a middle ground where these two worlds merge. I see design as a series of rational decisions influenced by the endless limitations of reality and industry. In contrast, art makes me feel like anything is possible and valid.”
When asked how she bridges the gap between the physical and digital universes in her work, Clara says, “Since I had already done many physical works before I even knew what an NFT was, I immediately started wondering how to digitize my pieces. Whenever I need to make a decision, the first thing I do is look around. I came across an old, broken printer, but the scanner still worked. So, I started scanning my sculptures and drawings, interacting with the tool like it was a toy. I haven’t stopped since,” she shares.
Crohdchet
Currently, Clara is focused on enjoying her creative freedom: “I’d say I’m in the ‘honeymoon phase’ with this new profession. Right now, I’m working a lot with crochet and developing a collection called CROHDCHET. This series involves collaborations with pixel artists, where each artist creates a design within a 20x20 pixel grid, which I then crochet by hand. This project allows me to explore how images translate into crochet, and the best part is connecting and building networks with artists in my community.”
In parallel, Clara continues working on her “cathartic drawings” and ceramics projects: “my hands are always busy,” she says. Her only limitation, she notes, is that her physical work must fit into her scanner. “This has proven to be the most practical way to digitize my creations. It also allows me to experiment with movement and, in a way, ‘break’ the image of something that already exists.”
Cathartic drawings. Artist: Clara Ohde.
Her cathartic drawings involve a repetition of hand-drawn circles that form a sort of 3D worm: “it creates a visual effect that I love. Sometimes, I add movement while scanning them, resulting in visual effects that, to me, feel like magic.”
Of all the pieces minted on objkt, her favorite is KNOT, created during the Bosque Gracias Autumn Residency. “It’s a physical ball I made from pieces of rubber hoses that I cut by hand. During the residency, I had access to a slide scanner with the unique ability to scan objects placed away from the scanner. This technology allowed me to create KNOT. Basically, I made the ball roll while the scanner did its job. The process was quick and a lot of fun. It also reinforces my belief that the objects around us can be inherently beautiful.”
Knot. Artist: Clara Ohde.
BRAT and future
From everyday inspirations, Clara shares the music she’s listening to at the moment: “lately, I’ve been immersed in Charli XCX’s CRASH album. I love pop music and the fantasy that surrounds it; I like listening to songs that make my body move. However, I also need to balance that energy, so when I want to relax, I listen to boleros. I love the contrast between these two worlds.”
And to close, I ask a question that might stir a bit of unease or, at the very least, invite some reflection: where do you see yourself professionally in 10 years?
“I’ve always had my future goals well defined, thanks to my brand and its growth. However, today, after the unexpected turn my life has taken, I’m enjoying not having everything planned out, as the opportunities that arise never cease to surprise me. What I’m sure of is that I’ll always keep my hands busy, as usual. Maybe I want to find the intersection between my knowledge of industrial design and my artistic side. But perhaps that intersection is, essentially, just me,” she concludes.