Between Utility and Cultural ImpactUnfolding Kropa’s Nail Production: Between Utility and Cultural Impact explores the interplay of craft, industry, and heritage in Kropa, a Slovenian town shaped by ironworking. Nail-making once defined its economic and cultural identity, leaving a lasting mark on local landscapes. The planinčar (hobnail), a hand-forged nail with a complex design, resisted industrialisation and continued to be made manually into the 20th century. It embodies the persistence of traditional craftsmanship and connects Kropa’s practices to broader historical narratives, symbolising the town’s transition from manual to industrial production. The project reimagines the planinčar’s lifecycle through an installation that combines digital and industrial techniques, shifting from a narrative of replacement to one of coexistence between tradition and modernity.
DATE 2025 MATERIALS Aluminum rod, aluminum sheet, stainless steel bolts, electronics, aluminum 3D print, rubber 3D print, plexiglas SIZE 150 x 200 cmSHOWN AT Made In Program,
Center Rog & Mao (Museum of Architecture and Design), Ljubljana (Slovenia)COLLABORATION WITH Zan Kobal PHOTO CREDIT
MAO/Luka Karlin