Abid Javed & the Storylines of Biology: Filming the First "Modern Makers" Episode
Back in early 2021, I was commissioned by The Modern House to create a five-part short film series titled Modern Makers, a project that explored the work and philosophies of contemporary UK-based craftspeople. The first artist I filmed for the series was Abid Javed (@abid.jav) and it set the tone for everything that followed.
Abid isn’t your typical ceramicist. He’s a molecular biologist by training, and his practice is deeply informed by that background. His work isn’t just about form or texture, it’s about storytelling at the microscopic level. As he put it during our shoot, he’s interested in “the storylines of biology” and how the invisible structures of life can be reimagined and expressed through clay.
We filmed in Abid’s studio space in Hackney, a clean, minimalist setup filled with light and texture. There was a quiet intensity to the way he worked; everything considered, nothing rushed. His pieces felt like fossilised memories of microscopic life, delicate, skeletal, strange in the best way.
Finding the Tone of the Series
Abid’s film became the first episode of the Modern Makers series, and looking back, it was the perfect introduction. It showed that this series wouldn’t just be about materials and technique, it would be about the people behind the work, and the ideas that drive them.
That combination, thoughtful visuals and honest conversation, shaped how I approached the rest of the series. With Abid, the science and the art weren’t separate things. His background in biology fed directly into his creative decisions, and that tension between knowledge and instinct gave the film a unique texture.
The Role of Craft in Contemporary Storytelling
Working on Modern Makers reminded me why I’m drawn to documenting people like Abid in the first place. Craft, when explored with sincerity and patience, becomes a way to talk about much more than objects; it becomes a way to talk about identity, time, memory, and even science.
If you’re a brand, studio, or publication looking to tell deeper stories through film, feel free to get in touch.
