If you’ve ever seen project runway where the designers are
asked to make garments out of the most outrageous materials; but then they
proceed to come up with something so genius its mind bottling. Well here you
have it! Renata Minoldo Argentinean Visual artist based in London. As a
contemporary artist Minoldo starts of her first collection “Fake is Better”
with the use of clay as her materials. Before the whimsical collection came
along; Renata spent her time in fashion design and also visual art. Creating pastel
colored sculptures that catches the eye.
How did you get your
start in making jewelry?
Well I am actually a fashion designer and also a visual
artist so I’m always mixing those disciplines. I also use to work in costume
design as well, so everything I do is 3 D. I started to work with sculpture in my visual
artist practise. I just wanted to mix those two elements together and doing
that I feel like it gives me more freedom; you can be more crazy and free with
shape than with clothing design. I really
like having that freedom and all the creative possibilities of making jewelry.
I’m always experimenting with tools and textures so it’s a great excuse to get
to know different materials.
Renata Minoldo's Sculpture and costume designs
What made you choose
clay as your primary material?
Yes, this collection was made out of clay but I want to make
use of other materials later. Also its weird because usually clay is related to
something really crafty; which is something I really like and something I’m
really influenced by. My artistic practise is also very crafty, I use a lot of
craft materials, but at the same time nobody really pays attention to that
material. Basically I just use that material because it’s really playful and it
allows me to do lots of different things with it.
What is your design
process?
My design process is about a lot of research first and
ideals and also mood boards of things I really like. For instance, this
collection was inspired by Franz West, who is an Austrian artist. He’s amazing
he does a lot of sculpture, I mean of course he has a very huge body of work.
He also does furniture design as well and the pieces are really huge. You can
sit on them! Most of the traditional art works are in museums or galleries. You
just look at it and not touch or interact with the work. What Franz West was
trying to do is get people to interact with his work. With him doing that I took
many of his shapes and incorporated them into my own collections. If you look
at many of my work its very girly and playful... like if I was twelve (laughs).
I don’t really draw a lot I just do a
lot of research and then I work straight in 3D trying different shapes,
combinations and colors. I think it suits me really well, I’m really happy
working with jewelry.
Franz West Designs
When did you first
start making jewelry?
Well I always kind of had the idea, I started making
accessories for costumes, not really wearable, mostly headpieces and giant
necklaces because I worked with a lot of music bands. Those were some of things
that were worn on stage so they had to be big most of the time. There was just
a point where I wanted to start my own business. You know sometimes we have
lots of ideas so I just sat down one-day last year in September/ October I decided
to “yeah I’m going to do this” because it also gives me that opportunity of independence.
I also thought if I move I would always be able to create and take my business
with me. At the same time, it’s something that gives me the possibilities to be
free and create. So then I launched the collection in March because it was also
difficult to find creative people to work with that shared the same aesthetic
and were willing to work with me. I’ve had the opportunity to work with this
amazing stylist, we worked together a lot looking at different images and
coming up with different ideas.
What advice would
give to someone who wants to get into jewelry or visual art?
I don’t know if I feel like really qualified, I just think
that in anything you just have to do your research. Not only the visual parts
of the research but finding your originality challenges you more as an artist.
Also know the material that you’re working with, I think that’s really important. It took me a long time; I’m very use to working with material so I know
how certain things would behave. At the same time, it took me a while to really
dominate it. The great thing about the time we live in is that we have great
resources like the Internet so it’s easier to connect and learn.
Text: Imani Green
Visuals: Renata Minoldo, Franz West
Thank you very much for this lovely interview!
ReplyDeleteCAMP loves Physche <3