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Studio Seminars

Pin your identity: craft a brooch that tells your story!

In this two-day Studio Seminar with artist and designer Boubaker Boukhari, participants will explore the brooch as both a functional object and a personal statement. Historically used to fasten garments and cloaks, the brooch has long served as a marker of identity with its form, craftsmanship, and materials once revealing an individual’s tribal or social affiliation.

Through guided discussion and hands-on making, participants will reflect on how identity can be translated into wearable form. Participants will begin by researching historical and contemporary brooches and developing a personal design concept, testing their ideas through wearable cardboard prototypes. They will then learn fundamental jewelry-making techniques, including metal cutting, forming, soldering, and assembly, to transform their concept into a finished brooch.

Program Agenda

Part 1: Research and Design

Participants begin by exploring the relationship between identity and adornment through discussion and visual research. They will develop a personal brooch design and create a cardboard prototype to test its comfort, functionality, and wearability.

Part 2: Metal Forming and Cutting

Participants will transfer their design onto metal and learn basic hand-cutting and forming techniques to begin shaping their brooch.

Part 3: Soldering and Assembly

Participants will learn fundamental soldering techniques, including how to assemble their brooch and securely install the pin mechanism.

Part 4: Finishing and Surface Treatment

Participants will refine their piece by smoothing edges, exploring surface textures, and applying final finishing techniques to complete their brooch.

By the end of the program, participants will leave with a personalized, wearable brooch, along with foundational skills in metalworking.

Each participant will also receive a 421 Artist-Kit and a how-to guide to Boubaker’s key techniques, supporting them to continue developing this practice beyond the seminar.

Accessibility & Participation

Open to ages 18+

No prior experience required.

Language: English with Arabic support available

60 AED

To be added to the waitlist, please email hello@421.online

About the Artist

Boubaker Boukhari is an Algerian born multidisciplinary artist, director, and animator currently based in Abu Dhabi. With a foundational education in fine arts from Algeria, he further honed his skills in cinema animation through a collaborative initiative between the European Union and the Maghreb region. This experience laid the groundwork for his diverse career, which spans animation, jewelry design, and storytelling. Boukhari's artistic practice is characterized by a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary media. His recent project, "Ghariba & Ajeeb," exemplifies his interdisciplinary approach, combining shadow sculpture, immersive film, handcrafted jewelry, and live storytelling to create a multifaceted narrative experience. Boukhari has contributed to the arts community as an educator, conducting workshops in cartoon animation and visual effects. His commitment to storytelling and cultural expression continues to inspire audiences and emerging artists alike.