What is the best thing that I love about my work?

The best thing about my work is the uncertainty of working between tangible material and abstract ideas. I invent everything — my crafting technique, which differs for each material I design, and my crafting tools, which I must also create, as they are unique to each design. I never begin with an idea; I begin when I have absolutely no idea what I am doing. This uncertainty and chaos are my starting point.

The only thing that’s inherently there, waiting and not ruled by me, is the story behind my materials. These stories shape the aesthetic vision and the path for each design. My relationship with the materials I make is conflict-driven: I want a smooth material with equal flow, yet I accept the cracks. I move with the material’s behaviour. It is frustrating — we humans enjoy dominating over nature, and I can see it in myself during the process — but it is always a surprise to see the distance between what I imagine and what I end up creating.

I love the working method I established for myself: non-stop handcrafting from 6 am to 9 pm, with only a 30-minute break. Sweating is an important element in my work. Then, finally, the flow of ideas stops, and the material has grown into a textile. For me, the essence of my practice is this: working with uncertainty, surrendering to matter, and above all, working with time — time as the true co-creator of everything I make.

What is my idea of happiness?

I am Armenian, and my entire nation has survived a genocide that is still not recognized. I think my idea of happiness will always carry an existential meaning, rooted in the question: what value do I bring by being alive?

What is my greatest fear?

I don’t feel fear, but I realize it is natural to have some fears within our basic instincts. What I try to stay aware of is the danger of unknowingly falling into a predictable and ‘easy’ path in my work.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

Nothing truly holds me back. I live with a kind of fever that drives me forward — an intensity that sometimes overwhelms, but always feeds my creative process.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?
Most of the people I admire are dead: Jan Vermeer, Jacques Brel, Antoine Watteau, Arshile Gorky, Albert Camus… an endless chain of dead men. Among the living, I can only think of women I admire — and they happen to be the ordinary women around me.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

If there were a single thing I disliked, I think it would make my work impossible. What I truly dislike is the childish attitude of abandoning the entire practice just because of not liking one thing.

When and where was I the happiest in my work?

When I am alone in my studio, waiting for the work to begin.

If I could, what would I change about myself?
Speed and self-criticism — but I am using them, and I am not concerned about changing them. I act like a race car with no brakes. It feels very hot and still, I would like to learn how to slow down.

What is my greatest achievement at work?

The process of creating.

Where would I most like to live?

I live in the heart of Amsterdam. It’s the place I most like to live. 

What is my most treasured possession?

My sense of humour. 

What is my most marked characteristic?

Challenging the status quo of existing systems and ideas.

What is my most inspirational location in my city?

The Amstel River in the morning, and the rose bushes along the Prinsengracht.

What is my favourite place to eat and drink in my city?

My neighbour’s back garden.

What books influenced my life and how?

Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot is my ultimate favorite book. After reading it, I started taking life seriously. While reading Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, I cried the most.

Gurdjieff’s Tales of Beelzebub to His Grandson made me stop taking anything seriously.

Albert Camus’ The Rebel changed the way I put my ideas into words.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen to on my last day?

Glenn Guld, Bach Goldberg Variations

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

My heroine in fiction is Antigone. I admire her courage, her unwavering sense of duty, and her refusal to compromise her principles, even in the face of death. 

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My parents, my friends and my son.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?

Bertolucci’s “Dreamers”, but I don’t recommend it.

I think Jim Jarmusch’s films are the best for watching. 

What role play stories in my life and work?

The biggest role. Stories drive my creative process — they are the starting point, the thread that guides my materials, my designs, and the ideas I bring into the world. Without stories, my work would have no direction or depth.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me?

I don’t see myself or my work from an outsider’s view; I think that is why I cannot clearly tell what story I am telling.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

My 8-year-old son. We experiment together, make a real mess, and share the joy of creating.

Which people or companies would I like to work with? (You can mention a maximum of 10 people and/or companies who could make a real difference in your creative career. I will invite them to tell their story, tell them you mentioned their name and send them your story.)

Which people or companies would I like to work with?
I would love to collaborate with institutions that inspire and challenge me, including:

• Rijksmuseum
  
• Stedelijk Museum
  
• MoMA
  
• Armenian American Museum in Los Angeles

What project am I looking forward to working on?

It’s the ‘Indigo Project’ I am working at the moment, and it is growing into something quite unexpected. 

Where can you see me or my work?

Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/droshakir/

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

In my case, it’s an experience of never being exhausted in my work.

Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story? (you can mention a maximum of 10 people who you would give the opportunity to share their story, i will invite them to tell their story, tell them you mentioned their name and send them your story)

I would love to hear from weavers — women whose hands, patience, and creativity bring stories to life through materials.

How can you contact me?

My email: droshakir29@gmail.com

For Collaborations: https://www.linkedin.com/in/droshakir/