Rebel channelled into craft
- Marta creates unique jewellery by combining several traditional techniques
- Her works were exhibited at the National Museum in China
- She completed a state goldsmith training course
Since childhood, Marta Norenberg rebelled at anything traditional and experimented instead with handicrafts. After completing her studies in Art History in 2010, she undertook various activities to broaden her skills, including laying large-format glass mosaics, studying glass melting, learning the Tiffany-stained glass technique as well as completing a one-year-long goldsmith course. It was during the latter, studying with master Andrzej Bandkowski, that her love for silver jewellery really took hold, and which, in 2013, she turned into a business. Since then, she has been creating custom-made jewellery combining several of the techniques and skills that she has acquired. Her breakthrough project was a copper necklace made of felted merino wool, embossed and dyed leather then framed with precious stones. Marta finds inspiration from the richness of fauna and flora, as well as literature characters and fantasy creatures.
Interview
- How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
- I create only single copies of my pieces of jewellery based on traditional techniques and hand-drawn projects, which proves my love for traditional craftsmanship. However, I combine classically processed ore with unusual – sometimes common – materials, thus paying tribute to modern trends.
- What do you like most about your work?
- Creating something tangible out of impersonal pieces of metal sheets until it has a soul and deeper meaning. I believe my work proves that jewellery can become art.
- What does well made mean to you?
- Carefully and precisely made, but not necessarily perfect – mass-produced might be "perfect" but certainly not well made. I believe that the small imperfections hidden in handmade works make them unique.
- Does your job involve any health hazards?
- Unfortunately, yes. A moment of carelessness can easily result in burns. I daily work with a burner or with glass enamel which is fired in a preheated furnace at 900°C.
Marta Norenberg is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2013
Where
Marta Norenberg
