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What is the story of your meeting with Meșteshukar ButiQ and Roma craftsmen?
The story started in Vienna, during the Design Week there, where I first met Andrei Georgescu, Meșteshukar ButiQ manager. It was pretty simple actually, after we talked a few times we decided to try developing a series of vases and trays. Two months later, we started prototyping and it took us 5 months and three workshop visits to finish the objects. I was really looking forward to meet the Roma craftsmen and as expected, it was a really nice experience. I was amazed by the level of skills they have, this being my first interaction with the community and craftsmen. For me personally, this collaboration means a lot. It’s a great opportunity to express myself in my own way, but in a more elaborate context.
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Your first collaboration with MBQ brought you an award at Romanian Design Week. What does this award mean to you?
It means a lot. I was actually confident that the objects that I imagined, were in a good aesthetical direction, but the fact that they won an award comes as a confirmation for this, from a jury made out of curators basically. It means that besides the idea and the shape, the objects were built at their best, which means that the collaboration was a successful one. Besides this, is a confirmation that the aesthetic ideology in Romania, is moving towards a contemporary approach, a thing which as I see it, didn’t happened until recently, and is still being very shy.
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How would you describe this new collection and how was the meeting between the new and the old, the craftsman and the designer?
Totemic and sculptural, yet reaching their function. Also, this is a collection that is suitable for an international market, as well as for the local one. I see them as classical objects, but with a modern approach, on materials that are easily used in more than one type of interior. Overall, I would say this collection is a balanced composition of different contrasts. Physical and obvious ones, as well as conceptual and more subtle others. The meeting between the craft and the designer was a natural one, I would say. In my creative process I am always personally involved in the building of each object I am creating, so I think this came as a good extra knowledge, in order to better understand the limitations of the materials and have a better communication with craftsmen. It was really nice for me to work with such experienced people and all this gave me an idea on how sharper skills can get in time, if you persevere. I could say it was inspiring!
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Last but not least, what do you seek in a new collection or in a new product?
It’s the good feeling in it, probably. I don’t necessarily follow trends as I mostly work intuitive, while exploring contrasts and trying to achieve a well balanced composition. In order to consider an object finished, I need to get to a point where I feel the shapes and volumes are complete.
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Your favourite item from the collection?
It’s probably the copper/brass cylinder vase, with half spheres made out of brass, on top. But it’s hard to say, because at the same time I love the conical one with wings on the sides, or a simpler one, closer to a more classical aspect.