Starting with a jigsaw, Oleksandr Hrytsai cuts cross sections out of what looks like 2 cm thick oak boards, then laminates them into the approximate shape of a helmet. Then the magic begins. Using a pleasingly low-tech tool – a small angle grinder – he carves away the steps on the inside of the helmet to make a smooth surface, then switches to smaller grinding machines and hand tools to shape the exterior of the helm.
Watching Oleksandr at work is incredibly therapeutic: seeing the shape emerge out of the wood is just amazing. Like so many craftspeople, the tools he uses are cheap and readily available; the rare magic comes from the skills of the maker.
We’re in awe of the spatial awareness it must take to turn flat wooden boards into a fully realised 3D shape.
