From Amateur to Professional
Over the years he has learned a lot. In the beginning, he carried home rotten wood, but now he tests every piece before taking it. The procedure also became more and more targeted, the work more efficient and Nedim tuned from a layman to a professional.Now the time has come for him to share his work with others, and to offer the wooden artworks for sale. You can buy 'finished' works or commission your desired piece of art.
His working place is located just below the Schiesshorn, the local mountain of Arosa, in the Isla. Various streams and waterfalls lead to the Isla and after a rainstorm they carry new material to Nedim. Then he sets off and is always happy to find the beautifully formed roots and helps them to shine anew.
„The roots find me“
Even as a child, Nedim always spent a lot of time in the forest and on trees. Already at that time he sensed the power and energy in nature, which he still feels today. Long walks in the forest to "refuel" or get rid of sorrows are not uncommon for him. So it happened that it was precisely during these walks that his passion for beautiful roots, which seem to lie forgotten by the wayside, hidden from the gaze of others, was born. At first he could not believe that such "works of art" lie unnoticed for years in front of everyone's eyes and it was him who discovered them. "The roots find me," Nedim is therefore convinced. "They come to me as if to a trusted friend," he says with a laugh. Because "Nedim" is Arabic and translates as 'trusted friend’.
Born in Yugoslavia, Nedim grew up in the Tyrol and has now lived for several years in the mountain village of Arosa in Graubünden, Switzerland. Surrounded by nature, forests and meadows, and the omnipresent mountain scenery, it is the perfect place for nature lovers. Since he carried the first root home on September 5, 2013, his passion has been unstoppable. In the meantime, a large collection has accumulated at his home, which he works on in his spare time. His fascination while working on a root, which usually takes many hours, is undivided. He himself is always amazed at the shapes and patterns that become visible in the wood after he has cleaned and sanded it. It is especially important to him to preserve the natural shape of the root and not to change it too much. "Nature is the artist," as Nedim likes to say. Careful work and enough time is therefore very important
The Mutten Tree
Arosa and its surroundings are full of legends and old stories. The Swiss stone pine also appears in one of the tales. "In front of the Aelplisee there is still an old Swiss stone pine, the Mutten Tree, next to which a spring rises. In this spring there used to be a golden key, for which the children of Arosa were eagerly on the lookout in years gone by.
As if they were looking for crabs, they waded around in the water and picked up every stone, since a delicious prize beckoned the finder: a real princess as a companion. But none of the children was as lucky as the shepherd of the legend. He had once succeeded in discovering the key. As soon as he held it in his hand, a round door with iron fittings became visible at the root of the tree. He opened it with the golden key and entered a room in which a little mountain man was keeping watch over a golden Plümpa (cowbell), a Gebse (key) full of precious stones and a beautiful princess. The mountain man asked the shepherd to make his choice: The cowbell would provide him the most beautiful cattle in the land, while the choice for the gems would bring him wealth and also the princess. The shepherd quickly grabbed the Plümpa and rushed home in good cheer. In fact, the shepherd now had by far the most beautiful cattle in the country and was envied by everyone. But he himself could not be happy about it: by choosing to spurn the princess, he made her his enemy. This brought terrible misfortune on his family. When the last of his children had died, the shepherd climbed the Cow Hill and threw the golden Plümpa down against the Mutten Tree, where the little Mutten Man picked it up laughing with scorn and carried it back into his cave. But the shepherd wandered off and was never seen again.” (Legend hike Arosa and surroundings: Kurverein Arosa, summer 1995)
Moon Wood
Very special for Nedim are the walks at full moon. "Just as the lunar cycle influences us humans, it also plays a central role for the trees," he knows. Wood harvested at the "right time" (Moon Wood) lasts longer and is resistant to pests and fungi. Moon Wood does not shrink, is crack-free, does not warp, is weather-resistant and burns with difficulty. Moon Wood thus represents the highest form of quality that wood can exhibit. Nedim is convinced that this also applies to roots, which he takes from the forest at the right time.
Contact
Nedim is also happy to accept individual requests for a sculpture, lamp or sofa. Do you already have an idea? Contact Nedim right here.
