Muse um represents the endless search of the artistic perspective, through the experimental forms created in the material and foraged from nature. It is the place where the muses can be found as well as lost, the creation becoming only an ephemeral memory.
I created this concept from the need of opening a dialogue, questioning our practices and our values, having at its core my childhood knowledge. Asking the question of how much we take and how little we give back?
Half of my childhood life I spend trying to create connections between me and butterflies, our sweet apricot tree and the earth that was resting in the winter. Now I integrate nature in my pieces, such as foraged seeds, stones and marine gifts. I am sewing them on my garments and braiding shells on my necklaces hoping to tell the stories of our mutual home.
I am experimenting with different forms of materials and textures bridging the gap between art and nature. My new project ‘’Plant the seed’’ I want to insert native perennial flowers seeds in my pieces, therefore when these items are worn, the seeds will be spread to the ground. Human beings as seed carriers leaving behind a heritage of wild flowers.
Curator for ''The garden of belonging'' Exhibition
In Western philosophical tradition, paradise has often been interpreted either as a concrete place or as a state of mind and utopian ideal. Today, under the dominance of artificial intelligence, transhumanism and climate change, paradise takes on new forms, leading to the next question: Is it possible to build a paradise on Earth? Or is the search for paradise, in itself, a necessary illusion of the human condition?
Assistant curator for MYC CASA exhibition of Atelier Dasha Tsapenco
Atelier Dasha Tsapenko reimagines the traditional Romanian home, CASA, through a collection of household objects, textiles and clothing made in collaboration with polypore fungi. Using the natural properties of cellulose digestion by fungi, she creates mycelium networks from locally sourced plant fibers, such as flax, hemp, nettle or field grass. They are the representation of a harmonious lifestyle, closely connected to the earth, which contrasts with today's globalized society.
Designer for Washed up on the shore Collection
The entire collection is founded on observation and foraging. Marine gifts such as shells, algae and stones that were washed up on the shore found their way into our hands after the original sea creatures called it a home, counting on us to tell their stories of our mutual home.
Now we are sewing these gifts on our garments and braiding them in our necklaces.
This makes us think of the many beautiful gifts we receive and asks the question of what are we giving back?
Costume Designer for A language that is felt, Director Raluca Croitoru
Artistic Statement of Raluca Croitoru
A language that is felt is a long-term research project focused on the historical, visual and written accounts of friendship between women. The video approaches friendship between women as a site of political potential and as a dynamic and improvisational process that requires continuous self-pluralization and an embrace of ambivalence and improbability...
Exhibiting at Romanian Creative Week exhibition
The fashion industry has a major impact when it comes to textiles: on the environment, but also the abuse of people and animals. The planet is suffocated by excessive consumption and the obsessive desire we have for new objects. The idea proposed in this project is the use of waste and post-consumer textiles to create ''new'' clothing items. Showing that fashion can have an aesthetic and precious character, even if it is created from waste, attributing a careful and sustainable behaviour.
Founder and Head of Design at Muse um Concept
''From waste to couture''
Muse um represents the endless search of the artistic perspective, through the experimental forms created in the material. It is the place where the muses can be found as well as lost, the creation becoming only an ephemeral memory.
How can the garment be used for creating new connections with our inner self or the external world? Though shape, material, contour, pattern between genders, typologies, cultures.
Lectureship '' Ethical Fashion‘’ at the Faculty of Art and Design
The lecture explains my personal journey as a designer, working for sustainable and ethical fashion, designing with innovative materials like cactus, orange, algae and apple leather, down from wild flowers and a lot of other recycling textiles. The concept was answering 20 questions from the students of Fashion and Textile Design with a strong focus on the environmental, human and nature impact, cost, transparency, thoughtful design and durability, innovative textiles, upcycle and recycle.
Winning project for Worth Partnership Project, material innovation ’ALMA’ apple skin developed with bio-based oils derived from algae
Our goal for this project was focusing on the development of greener high-performance materials. To even further improve the ecological footprint of the apple skin material, we replaced the polyurethane, or in short – PU – with a bio-based oil derived from algae. Here is where our project ALMA started. Using biotechnology to harness the power of nature, we created a process revolving around fermenting algae to produce novel bio-based oils for use in materials used in the fashion industry.