The silver medal of the World Cup as a confirmation of quality
Carving (carving), or wood carving, carving - a technique in which, using tools, changes are made to the material being processed, by cutting or scraping. Dejan Ilić, carving master makes flowers - not flowers, or so it seems to you. Flowers made of various fruits, especially watermelon, his favorite material, look more than realistic.
A former professional athlete, volleyball player, with a natural competitive spirit, ventured into food decoration 8 years ago, with great success. Numerous competitions and numerous medals are confirmation that Dejan Ilić managed to combine sportsmanship, desire for success, talent, love, dedication and perseverance - and what are the results of his work in carving? - judge for yourself - at the end of this text, see the photo gallery of Dejan's carving works.
However, as in all spheres, the big problem here is money. All competitions in which he participated, he had to finance it himself. Also, Dejan recognizes the big problem that, still, carving is underrepresented in the hospitality industry. This is the reason why his decorations are still not in large hotels and exclusive offers, where they actually belong.
The best example are hotels with their exclusive offers, from Turkey, Tunisia, etc., which use carving arrangements in their promotional marketing actions. At the moment, it is easier for him to agree on some fruit decoration for a wedding or a celebration, than with big hotels. We believe that this situation will change quickly!
What is carving?
- Carving is the Thai art of fruit and vegetable carving. The privilege of seeing such decorated food and having it on the table, only kings in Thailand and emperors in China had them. In the Western world, it can be said that this skill is relatively young. It has experienced real expansion in recent years. In our country, it is still insufficiently known and not exploited at all. As in everything, we have to be late, although we have the talent and gift to create real little masterpieces.
How and when did you start carving?
- I started carving eight years ago. I liked exactly that - that everything was presented in a different way. Fruits and vegetables have taken on another dimension in art and food decoration.
Are there any "standard" fruits and vegetables for your work?
- If you ask which vegetables and fruits are ideal, there are none. Any fruit and vegetable that is firm enough to be carved can be used. Starting with pumpkins and pumpkins, through zucchini, carrots, cabbage, peppers and garlic, to apples, oranges, melons and, of course, watermelons.
What fruit or vegetable do you use most often for your works?
- I mostly work on watermelon. I think watermelon has many beautiful colors. Green, white and red. The contrast is fantastic! However, it is not ideal for all carving. 3D figures are made from gourd and dulek, daikon radish, and in Thailand, from the taro plant, which is not available here or in Europe. It doesn't stop us from what we have, really we can raise the decoration of the table or buffet to a very high level! I try to decorate each plate in a special way. I think man first consumes food with his eyes, so that visual impression is very important.
Is there a special carving tool?
- Yes, I knew you would ask me what tool is needed for this mastery. Honestly, I made my first knife myself. A grinder, sandpaper and knives from the market - and that's how I made my first knife! However, I got my first thinner knife, for carving, from Mr. Francesca Scavallieri, with whom I attended the course. For all this, great persistence and desire are needed, as in any business.
Do you participate in competitions?
- I am an athlete at heart. I played volleyball professionally for twenty years, so I'm still infected with the competitive virus. The first competition I went to was in Innsbruck, Austria. It went without a medal, but it was a great experience for me. I saw where I am and how much I can do. In addition, I also learned what I should do at the competition, how to set up a composition. It gave results, because in Istanbul I won two gold and one silver medal, the first for Serbia. Among them, the most significant is last year's silver medal from the World Cup in Luxembourg.
I can say that the carving competitions are the most interesting and interesting for the observers themselves. Minute by minute, you can see how a watermelon, melon or clove of garlic is transformed into a real piece of art - which, in the end, takes its place in the final composition. Otherwise, the competition itself has its own rules and is separated from the WAKS carving rules.
To whom would you recommend carving? Are there any prerequisites?
- I must say that there are no rules as to who can engage in carving. Many artists, all over the world, who have nothing to do with gastronomy, are very successful carving masters. Whoever wants to, should be armed with patience and persistence and should be ready to find new friends at the market, among the sellers, because there they will look for material for their works.
Dejan Ilić, carving master, short biography
He started carving 8 years ago.
The first competition was in Innsbruck in 2013, which ended without a medal, but it meant a lot to him as a "school" and experience.
It was his experience from Innsbruck that helped him win his first medals in Istanbul in 2014. two gold and one silver. He is especially fond of the gold medal he won in the team competition with Malaysian competitor Mohd Yusof Yaakob.
In 2014, he participated in competitions in Innsbruck, Sofia, and the most important competition was the World Cup in Luxembourg. He won the total in those competitions two gold, three silver and one bronze medal. In Luxembourg, at the World Cup, as the only representative of Serbia in the individual competition, he won silver medal, which is the first medal for Serbia in carving at such a big competition.
Photo gallery:
Belgrade, May 2015.
Interview led by: Miodrag Ilić
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