Finding purpose in jewellery making
- Alexandra always does a lot of sketching before she begins the making process
- She enjoys working with minute segments and details in gold or silver
- She has previously taught jewellery classes and finds sharing her knowledge very rewarding
For Alexandra Tauc, the connection with creativity and art started a long time ago, in school. She first studied painting and drawing, and later attended jewellery making classes for more direct contact with materials. Knowing that she had found her calling, and after taking several courses dedicated to the craft in 2011, she set up a workshop at home and immediately began working and experimenting. In 2019 she moved to a larger studio, which she shares with two jewellery designers, and opened her showroom in the same space. Alexandra specialises in sawing metal, construction and forming techniques, as well as forging and creating mechanisms such as catches, chains and hinges. Her other skills include wax carving and stone setting techniques, of which flush and tube setting are what she uses the most.
Interview
- In what way is your craft linked to a sense of place?
- I believe all crafts are linked to the territory to which the artisan belongs in such a way that each artisan's style is unique. I have to say that over the years, as I have studied more, the rich territorial history regarding jewellery making has occupied a large part of my mind. As natural reserves of precious metal in Romania have been documented for centuries, alongside great artefacts, there is somehow this feeling that I must add pieces to this history.
- How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
- Tradition is mandatory because there are techniques that have not changed for hundreds, if not thousands of years. I combine them in such a way that I can reach the point of innovation I desire. This allows me to shape a piece of jewellery that looks futuristic, while traditional techniques remain at its core. Although I work primarily in precious metals, lately I have wanted to add more unconventional materials to address the sustainability aspect of my craft.
- How would you define what you do?
- I create conceptual, contemporary pieces, expressing a reinterpretation of the shapes present in nature, reimagining common day-to-day objects and revealing a form of asymmetric geometry. Every piece is meant to represent more than the joining of metal and precious stones, it is a symbol made to travel through time and space.
- What does well made mean to you?
- Attention to detail is one of the first characteristics of my work. I am somewhat of a perfectionist and my own biggest critic and so the work has to be the best I can do and more. A good finish or a seamless line are extremely valuable to me. I believe it is more than just creating a piece, it is also about respecting the future wearer.
Alexandra Ungurelu is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2011
Works
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Alexandra Ungurelu
