"The tree is a deep symbol. Tree of life. Just imagine: it can be older than a person. You weren't there yet, and the tree was already growing - here and now. It is a living organism, who has seen a lot. A witness to history – a tree is always about wisdom and imperfect beauty.This is his magic..."
A piece of this magic can be in every home. They learned to keep it in the village of Ivano-Frankiv region. In 2019 Serhiy Ughrynyuk and his daughter Roksolana founded a workshop in 2008 DeepWood, in which designer products are made from wood and epoxy resin.
About love for manual labor as a family inheritance, and also about the art of engraving pieces of wood into interior items, the co-founder and ideological inspiration of the workshop Roksolana Ughryniuk tells.
This story began deep in the Carpathian forest. There, where felled oaks remained after storms and fellings. Big ones, strong - they just lay on the ground.
How come:quality wood, which will rot or go to someone for firewood, Roksolani thought, when she and her father, a third-generation carpenter, went to the forest to pick mushrooms and berries.
One day they brought a fallen oak tree to the workshop and began to experiment.They were looking for ways to "revive" wood, endowed it with functionality. This is how forest trees turned into exclusive decor, and parts of the Carpathians have been decorating people's homes far beyond the borders of Ukraine ever since.
"Three generations of men work in our family with a tree. My great-grandfather used to make doors and windows. My grandfather also made furniture. Then my father made furniture,- shares Roksolana.- The workshop was full of scraps. They are not suitable for furniture, but dad did not raise his hand to throw them away. He told me this later, who always dreamed of creating something miniature from wood, some fancy stuff.
I am an artist. I have an education as an interior designer. Creating is my life. Once I was working on a project, where a dying village had to be recreated. I thought for a long time, how to convey this extinction effect, haze effect, until she tried epoxy resin.It turned out incredible! Freezing on objects, the epoxy remains transparent. It can be used to document the authenticity of things. My father and I added this property to our work with wood.".
Having decided on the materials for creativity, Serhiy and his daughter adopted production technology. They experimented and perfected their skills for a year.
"We had the idea of a fix: find a resin manufacturer, which would be safe. We do not use construction resin - only that, which is used in everyday life. At the same time, it must withstand the temperature, be strong and not turn yellow,- says Roksolana.- When the resin was chosen, began to look for material to cover products. This is another task, because varnish can reveal the texture of the wood, or smooth it out.We picked over a dozen eco-friendly products from different manufacturers, until they found their own - like this, which makes the surface perfectly smooth. Things should not just be ecological, but also to have aesthetics".
A brand of ecological composition and responsible production
The result of the creative search of Serhiy Uhryniuk and his daughter was an eclectic brandDeepWood- a sample of delicate things, special and mandatory necessarily made of wood. Candle holders and organizers, napkin holders and cup holders, kitchen boards and trays - all handmade, ecological composition and responsible production. Craftsmen do not cut down healthy trees for their products - on the contrary, they give new life to such trees, which will no longer grow. Are these oaks?, that they were uprooted by storms in the forest.Is it a nut?, which the neighbours gathered to cut firewood. There are also items made of ash in the assortment, mahogany and olive.
"It is important to us, so that all products are functional.So that people use them, and not just placed on the shelves,- says Roksolana and presents the customers' favorite:- Things, who buy from us the most and who made the brand recognizable, these are boxes.They appeared in the workshop by accident.Once the father tried to make several pieces from wooden scraps.We posted photos of the boxes on social networks, people liked it. They even bought the first products. Now it is our top seller".
Products DeepWood chosen by the people, who value quality and feel aesthetics. They understand the philosophy of art. They prefer naturalness and stand out for their individuality. Manufacturers also share the values of their customers.
"Our brand is about Ukrainian forests and love for nature. About the opportunity to work in Ukraine and the pride of telling the world about its potential and talented people",Roksolana is proud.
The simpler the art, the louder it sounds
And more DeepWood- about the courage to modernize the traditions of Ukrainian craftsmanship, emphasizing the always relevant minimalism in things, harmony and classics.
"Handmade products today do not necessarily have to repeat ancient patterns and ornaments. Craft items can look modern, can be stylish. Our boxes, candlesticks or trays are different in character, but they are all minimalistic. No extra cuts are needed, which will only collect dust. Art should be made simpler. It will then sound louder".
Art, created by Serhiy Ughryniuk and his daughter, sounds far beyond the borders of Ukraine. Craft designer wood and epoxy products are sold in the store DeepWood on the platform Etsy. The masters plan to open their own shop and on Amazon.The brand is established, and the company is developing.
"We want to expand,- says Roksolana.- To not only create and sell, but also to give people the opportunity to earn money.Handmade things have a long production period.You have to work on each idea for a long time - you can also delegate part of the work.".
"Ukrainians have it in their blood to do it with their hands and do it with quality"
The team already has a manager, which deals with sales. Roksolana's husband helps with documents.Manufacturers are also reaching out to local entrepreneurs, which can help fulfill the order.It's time to involve masters in production.
"We don't work for quantity. We work for quality,- says Roksolana.- Craft is creativity. Each of our boxes or coasters is unique.It is technically impossible to make two identical things from wood, because no two pieces of wood are alike.People are ready to wait for their orders, because they understand the value of the product.But we want to have more time. Especially, that Ukrainian craftsmen know how to make very high-quality things.
As a creative person, I cannot stay in one place for a long time, so now I live in Canada. I'm watching that, that are created in Ukraine, and I follow manufacturers from other countries.And you know, what will i tell you? We do better. Definitely, it's in Ukrainians' blood – to do it with their hands and to do it with quality".
Writer: Iryna Shatalova
