PHOTOS Shavan Rahim WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo
The demand for Porky Hefer’s human-sized leather nests, held within the Southern Guild Collection, is such that a client bought his latest work, a hippo named Grace, off a sketch. This is a snapshot of the design process.
Porky starts by sketching his design from various angles. “I draw a lot in order to understand the form in all its dimensions,” he says.
He then works with welders like Wellington Moyo (pictured) to make the steel frame that will determine the physical form of the object. Because none of the design and planning is done on computer, no two works are the same.
The completed steel frame will guide the rest of the process.
Porky consults with Geert Schuiling of Cape Town’s original leather merchant Woodhead’s to plan the outer layer of the nest. The pattern used to cut the leather is made on the steel frame.
The leather pieces are cut out according to the pattern.
The leather pieces are hand-stitched directly onto the frame by the Woodhead’s team.
The sheepskin interior is prepared and hand-stitched separately before being attached to the inside of the frame.
The team: Standing, from left, Danie Hanekom, Glynis Hercules, Enoch Mqwebedu, Dorinda Mack, Tyron Marcus, Rafiek Ismail, Geert Schuiling, Shahieda Carelse, Samantha Anthony and Margaret Petersen. Sitting, from left, Mickyle Petersen, Camelita Carelse, Porky Hefer and Natasha Manuel.
Porky’s exhibition monstera Deliciousa runs until the end of February 2016 at Southern Guild in Woodstock.
