COMMUNITY
Made with Love 4 you “I knew about rubber from other art projects, and I was fascinated by its resilience, its environmental friendliness, and its simplicity.”
Ikee Prod has created her own zoo in the Algarve, but this collection of animals is made of rubber. German-born Ikee developed her unique project in 1995, after meeting her French husband in Sagres. Lucas had originally worked in the film industry, but at that time was experimenting with modelling in Latex. As an artist, Ikee liked the idea. Ikee fell in love with the Algarve, which gave her the space to be creative and explore her imagination. However, the couple had to leave Portugal for Lucas' work project and travelled to Koh Jum in Thailand where they were building an eco-lodge. While Lucas worked, Ikee was at a loose end, and so she took her moulds with her and spent her days experimenting with modelling techniques. “I knew about rubber from other art projects, and I was fascinated by its resilience, its environmental friendliness, and its simplicity.” During the days Ikee would sit on the terrace of their hotel, kept company by the pregnant daughter of
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BY SOPHIE SADLER
the project's architect, who helped her. It was on 26 December 2004, the day their eco-lodge was due to open, that Ikee and her pregnant friend were sat in their normal position working, when they spotted the terrifying spectacle of the waters rising as the tsunami hit their island. They ran to higher ground. “I always felt it was fate that the one thing my friend grabbed was my most important tool for modelling. It was a sign that I should continue with this project.” Returning to the place they felt most at home in Portugal, Ikee and her husband decided to pursue the modelling in order to make a living. They wanted to create a product that reflected their love of the Algarve, the environment and the artistic license it gave them. “After we had set up our "base camp" in the Algarve, we wanted to produce something that could be transported easily and safely on trips and as a souvenir on an aeroplane. We thought of natural products that are beautiful and useful but would also be fun. We created a product that is
