It wasn’t long after my appearance on Globalno sijelo on national television and a few articles in local newspapers that I got my first real gig.
I still remember, it was a project for a well-known Croatian artist. She wanted a pair of robotic hands that would simulate hugging, as part of an art installation exploring how humans interact with machines. It was an amazing project. I was excited, but I had no idea how to price my work. I went with 5,000 kuna - half up front, half after delivery. It felt fair, even though I had never done anything like this before (but it sounded serious).
Getting all the parts was a struggle. I was learning everything on the go, building the hardware, testing the movements, making sure the system could actually simulate a gentle hug. But I made it work. And in the end, I earned my first 1,200 kuna. It wasn’t much. But for a young kid? It felt like a fortune. Of course, I spent it all on tools and equipment, because that’s what mattered most to me.
Since I was a minor, I had to bring my mom to the meeting to sign the contract and give legal consent. I felt a bit embarrassed, showing up with a parent to a serious client meeting, but it helped that I had already started to grow taller, so at least I looked a bit more serious.
The proudest moment came later, when those robotic hands were exhibited in a gallery in Zagreb. I stood there silently, watching people interact with something I built. Something that started in my room, in my mind… now being part of an actual exhibition.
That moment stuck with me. It wasn’t about the money. It was about the feeling that someone trusted my work and paid for it.
P.S.
In the photo: My assistant and neighbor helping with the project. Not me in the photo, but someone who was always curious about what I was building.
