Nikolay Sardamov

Jewellery maker

Mihail Novakov ©Michelangelo Foundation

Designed for eternity

Nikolay enjoys experimenting with forms and materials
He believes good design goes hand in hand with craftsmanship
Knowledge of materials is essential for him

Nikolay Sardamov has created art since he can remember, starting with drawing at an early age. Later, at an applied arts school, he developed his passion for jewellery making, which became his chosen profession. He received a BA in Аrt Еducation and an MA in Jewellery and Metal at the National Art Academy in Sofia. Participating in two Summer Academies in Salzburg marked a turning point in his career as a contemporary jewellery maker, opening his eyes to the possibility for experimentation with various forms and materials. Nowadays, he is a key Bulgarian jewellery maker, presented in galleries around the world and a selection of his works feature in the Victoria and Albert Museum's jewellery collection.

Interview

Mihail Novakov ©Michelangelo Foundation

Mihail Novakov ©Michelangelo Foundation

Who influenced your path as a jewellery maker?: Erico Nagai, my professor at the Salzburg Academy in 2003, changed my attitude towards jewellery. Before I met her, I was making more decorative pieces. She encouraged me to embrace a versatile style; I made my first series of objects from the inner tyre of a bicycle.
What form or material are you currently exploring?: I focus on the circle as a main component of my jewellery. Initially, I created flat circles, but gradually the circles gained three dimensional volumes. Ten years later, I’m still using circles in various configurations, but I always start from a central cube.
Where does your interest in the circle derive from?: I like too many things, that’s why I need a structure. Knowledge of the available elements makes me more focused in my work. Later on, I add chaos and try out different sizes and approaches. It suprises me how different the results are everytime.
What is well-made jewellery?: A piece of jewellery must be well crafted and pleasing to the eye. This adds to it the power of eternity. I admire when artisans use the right material and do it well. A good idea has to be synchronized with the craft, otherwise you can’t achieve a good result.

Nikolay Sardamov is a master artisan: he began his career in 1994 and he started teaching in 2000