BENEATH THE ARMOR: GATA MEETS DAEMON
Imagine a world where the mundane is transformed into the extraordinary, and the limitations of the physical world are transcended. Meet Sophia Bakscha, the Hungarian designer who is pushing the boundaries of traditional jewelry, with each piece serving as a portal, transporting us to a world where the lines between human and machine blur. Daemon Concepts’ creations stand as beacons of a new era, where art, technology, and personal identity converge in unprecedented ways, unveiling a vision of what our future identities could become.
Finding inspiration from the vibrant and diverse world of raves and performances, Daemon's jewelry serves as a conduit, allowing individuals to unveil a unique and extraordinary version of themselves. It's a testament to the transformative power of self-adornment—a wearable expression of identity, belonging, and personal evolution. By designing jewelry that resonates with the energy of the scene, Daemon Concepts fosters a profound connection with those who wear their creations, elevating their self-expression and empowering them to embrace their individuality fully.
The GATA team got to sit down with Sophia, the founder and creative mind behind Daemon Concept, who is pioneering this dystopian renaissance. We invite you to step into her cyber-realm where boundaries blur, and possibilities expand.
Hello Sophia, could you please introduce yourself to the GATA family?
I am Sophia, an artist and creative director of jewellery brand Daemon Concept. I work on the intersections of culture and technology - turning synesthesias into commercially viable products - developing collaborations and partnerships between design, music and tech companies - multi-scale projects with a critical point of View.
What's the team behind Daemon Concept?
It's somewhat elusive - operating out of a mostly female artisanal manufacture in the Eu - although have collaborators such as gem cutters and 3D artists around the world - some of us met at a Japanese film club 15 years ago - so the genesis of Daemon Concept somewhat started under the premises of a Takeshi Miike screening.
Why did you choose the name “Daemon” to represent your brand?
Reflects perfectly the figure I myself draw in everyday life - in the jungle of time and the jungle of city living I always thought a level of intimidation was necessary in terms of how You carry yourself.
But then the actual meaning behind Daemon reaches back to Greek mythology and simply means messenger - between deities and humanity.
How many people just sit around waiting to register such messages and call it art? I would say a lot of this is coming from a certain hyper focus on faith - the kind that is able to see things for what they are and believes in what they could be.
Before you became a Jewellery designer, you were a stylist; why did you choose to create jewellery and accessories above anything else?
Yes I have worked with several other disciplines before this but with fairly similar designing principles - and this was something I noticed gradually by art directing magazine editorial images - loved having simple and utilitarian garments - and then visually the most exciting part would be to add just one perfect shaped precious metal to ornament it. At the end of the day I am drawn towards the level of design that has similar depth as abstract contemporary art - however nothing beats the significance of becoming part of a person’s everyday life - for some, the product market fit of fashion objects can be a headache - but there are so many surprises that reveal itself in the socio economical process of fashion and we are realising ideas for people all around the world that keeps us sharp - these experiences I think not so available to a contemporary artist who do really exclusive works - good design reveals itself in accessibility and very gently weaves itself into everyday meaning.
What inspires you to shape your designs? For instance, we see a lot of tribals, perhaps tribes or religions?
The symbols I create are rather abstract and follow the arches of the body and bone structure, and then the shapes of nature, the protective natural armour.
I suppose it does bleed into Renaissance weaponry and sacral regalia - I’m proud of my family heritage that goes back into the mediaeval times with knights and bodyguards.
However, in an age where the decolonization of travel culture still haven’t taken place - it’s not a good practice to romanticise past symbols that You don’t fully grasp the meaning of - I think my designs are born in a borderless and stateless state of mind ( haha ) and looking into the future where that human body itself becomes the vessel for to reach.
My upcoming collaboration with Moma PS5 is a bit of an exception - it’s a departure from my usual perfectionist take towards an intentionally messy and whimsical world.
I think my designs are born in a borderless and stateless state of mind ( haha ) and looking into the future where that human body itself becomes the vessel for to reach.
We see that you don't follow any pattern of releasing a new collection every season, but you are faithful to your key designs and products. What rules do you have when releasing new products? How often do you create new products?
Great question - I was trying to extend the lifespan of each product up until the moment I have decided - Let's just keep it as permanent collections - perfecting it over time. From this perspective the sensibilities of the work we do is indeed more similar to the pace of contemporary art - seasonality seems like a simulacrum and adds unnecessary pressure - the aim is to design everlasting work as much as humanly possible - and apart from whats feels right for my own process the wastefulness of fast paced collections is really something I wish to walk away from.
Your designs are inspired by science fiction. Is there any movie/anime or character that has influenced you significantly?
The feeling of conflict from the inside with an active and necessarily evil that makes it possible to fight for what is actually “ innocent” really resonates with me. Whoever actually got things done outside the premises of abstractions always faces questions of what purpose justifies what means.. and I get a lot of things done..
I would say Aeon Flux and Lucy from Elfen Lied are my favourite heroines - and also Clare from Claymore but the inspiration is never so direct - I love how it draws on the sensation of inhabiting a physical body - I love the symbolism that bleeds into speculative biology.
The biggest influence for me is Samuel R Delany and his books about language and the language of speculative fiction itself - he is a black queer science fiction writer from the East Village who also had dyslexia so had a through and highly specific scope on linguistics - I felt my way of thinking was a bit re-coded after studying his works.
Are there any contemporary artists you feel excited about?
Honestly the work I do ties into music in more than one way - almost feels like I owe experimental electronic music changes in my brain structure - am really excited of the research of Spatial Sound ( link 4D sound ) and the neurological/meditation aspect of it - I want to publish some writings about this in the near future - and I actually love working on product development for music projects.. I think it's wonderful to create a perfect synesthesia when You develop products inspired by a certain album or sounds with a 360• approach - little multiversal annotations - and it can help the artists to gain more revenue streams and more integrity - the most recent small collaboration we are releasing is with the really sweet and fun Two Shells, a UK based duo for which we created these beautiful pearl accented pendants.. then of course the collaboration collection “ Chrysalis” we did with Yves Tumor is an entity on its own that is still taking final form - and I am excited for the most recent collaboration with Jasmine Sokko - a mysterious and beautiful Singaporean producer/singer/ songwriter with whom we are building a vision inspired by 1984 ( oke of the working future of a song of her upcoming release ).
If you could design the accessories for any movie set from the past or present, which one would it be?
There is no “ if “ I mean a science fiction project will happen eventually and I have worked around movies since I was very young. However I am waiting for a project to do under my own name with proper control and integrity - I suppose a first movie of a writer/director would be perfect and also - an Enki Bilal ( French comic artist ) adaptation with as little CGI as possible would be the highest possible honour.
Where do you imagine Daemon in some years? What are your short or long term goals as a creative?
I think longevity - designing modern heirlooms is what is on my mind most of the time - currently we are adding lab grown and sustainable diamonds and sapphires with innovation cuts to the recycled silver jewels - and I am finding ways to make really beautiful things very accessible - but then the opposite of this - near invisible and light objects that tie into physics are also possible.
