Although I haven’t seen it actually work, Andreea Cucu he knows he inherited the talent and passion for jewelry from his grandfather, who created in a space of one square meter. When he wasn’t in the pantry where he had set up his workshop, she would sit and imagine working with her hands.
In high school, out of a need related to health, jewelry creation turned into a passion for Andreea, and in college she discovered the Assemblage courses, supported by Andreia Popescu and David Sandu. He trained as a contemporary jewelry designer.
“When we talk about designer jewelry, I think it’s important to bring to people’s attention that these pieces are not produced automatically, they are not extracted through a robotic process that can multiply thousands of copies. Each piece of jewelry goes through unique stages,” says Andreea.
Andreea Cucu below, she talks about her connection to jewelry, what inspires her, and what the difficulties that sometimes arise in the creative process are.
Andreea participates in the fifth edition of Romanian Jewelry Weekwhich takes place between October 2-6 at the National Library of Romania.
From the biography
I was born and raised in Bucharest, and my training began at the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture, at the Architecture department. Although I explored other creative directions, I never gave up on architecture. Jewelry, like architecture, also has a creative process. Everything starts from an idea, a concept that, after many stages, takes three-dimensional form. The difference is that, in jewelry, I am also the manufacturer, the one who brings the concept to life and turns it into a concrete, handmade piece.
First contact with the jewel
There was a place in high school, following a health problem. I used this activity as a means of redirecting my attention and gradually jewelry turned into a passion. The skill and pleasure of working with my hands was passed on to me by my grandfather, who created jewelry and many other objects in the socialist pantry of his apartment.
The pantry, traditionally an essential storage space, became a small, ingeniously organized workshop for my grandfather. In this tiny space of only 1 square meter, he installed a small workbench, overlapping cabinets, drawers, drawers and shelves. Although I did not have the opportunity to see him actually work on jewelry, I inherited all of his creations. I remember that when he wasn’t using the pantry, I liked to sit there and imagine myself creating something. His activities in that space ranged from bookkeeping and home repairs to welding and small jewelry work.
The moment you decided to do jewelry design
In college, I discovered the Assemblage courses, taught by Andreia Popescu and David Sandu, which immediately won me over. They approached jewelry from a conceptual perspective, very similar to how I was used to approaching workshop projects in college.
The first creations
By the time I got to the Assamblage classes, I was experimenting with various materials. In the beginning, I liked to sew and embroider stones and beads on different materials in the form of chains. Another theme that we explored in a workshop within the faculty was proposed by the architect professor Augustin Ioan, who challenged us to give a meaning to the alphabet of the architect Marcel Iancu through an architecture or design project. In this context, I transposed a symbol from this alphabet into a ring.
The inspiration
I find my inspiration in everything that surrounds me. An essential part of my creative process is that when I discover something that piques my curiosity or an element of nature that inspires me, I choose to keep it, knowing that at some point they will find their place in the story. Maybe this habit even comes from the pantry I mentioned earlier – a space where you could find anything, always.
Even if this habit becomes complicated in terms of storage, especially when you have boxes full of dried flowers, stones from different places, shells, fruit peels, bark, wires, ribbons and other fragments from nature. But I am convinced that all these elements will have a role at some point. Each of them comes with its own story, and I like to pass this on.
The creative process. From the idea to the final object
I like to start any project by experimenting with different materials. Or I build a collage of various elements, until I feel there is potential in that direction. From there, I continue to develop and refine the idea. I couldn’t divide the process into ‘hard’ or ‘beautiful’ stages, the whole journey is both a challenge and a joy. Each step has its own charm, and the process of reaching the finished product is an experience in itself.
When we talk about designer jewelry, I think it’s important to bring to people’s attention that these pieces are not produced automatically, they are not extracted through a robotic process that can multiply thousands of copies. Each piece of jewelry goes through unique stages, and this gives it even more value.
However, the difficult part may be related to the physical aspects of the craft :)). Pain in the hands or back, because jewelry involves a lot of care, precision and attention. Sometimes you find yourself working for hours in an awkward position.
Romanian women’s relationship with jewelry
I think that, gradually, in Romania, people started to give more and more importance to jewelry, but also to the stories that accompany them. Romanian women want to have authentic jewelry that not only reflects their personal style, but also conveys part of their story.
Why are customers attracted to your jewelry
I have noticed, more often than not, a desire expressed through a spontaneous reaction of amazement when people first come into contact with one of my creations. Fascination and wonder, paired with a positive emotion, was always a motivating factor for me to continue the story. That’s why I wanted the branding to capture exactly that moment of first contact. Thus, this reaction became the starting point of the branding that envelops the entire story under the name Founder of Wonder.
Clients choose my jewelry because each piece is created to reflect a story that resonates with them. It is important to both me and them that jewelry is not just an accessory, but conveys emotions and provides a personal connection between us.
Participation in Romanian Jewelry Week 2024
Participating in Romanian Jewelry Week represents for me a debut and an opportunity to interact directly with people and share with them the story of each piece of jewelry. I am extremely curious to see the reactions of visitors when they discover and try on the jewelry. I like to see how they affect their mood. I think we need events like this and to exchange energy and ideas. It is also an opportunity to get to know each other and to be surrounded by beauty. I believe these moments of connection are essential for everyone involved.
The collection you display
My collection from Romanian Jewelry Week consists mostly of rings. Because I believe that the ring is one of the most powerful pieces of jewelry because of its position on the human body. In a world where most interactions take place through a screen, we come to appreciate direct interaction, touch, much more. Thus, the ring takes on a deeply personal and intimate meaning. I think this intimacy is also amplified by the fact that you can physically feel the ring, you can squeeze it in moments of joy, but also of anxiety, giving you strength or courage. More than any other piece of jewelry, I believe that the ring is primarily for you, and less for others.
Through this collection, I set out to give shape to our inner feelings and experiences. If emotions could be depicted, what would they look like? Through each piece I want to bring to light the complexity and depth of our dynamic nature, where emotions grow, intertwine, hide and sometimes suffocate each other, creating an inner landscape that is difficult to decipher and sometimes contradictory.
Source: www.iqads.ro
