Spot the Designer - Renate Erlacher/ Austria

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I have no idea what I wanted to become when I was a child, but it was very clear where my interests were: I loved to draw and paint, and I loved to produce clothes and accessories out of paper....and this passion stayed with me during all the years that followed. But it materialised only much later in my life, when I started to design handbags, and later to make jewellery.

When have you started creating jewelry? How did this passion come about?

My interest in jewelry in my early years was non existent, because all I could see was very classic, conventional jewelry, made out of gold, pearls, precious stones....this kind of jewellery never appealed to me. As soon as I discovered contemporary jewellery, my interest was triggered immediately. Mainly by magazines and galleries. I started to participate in workshops occasionally, but got serious only after my retirement, when I went straight to Florence to study at Alchimia, which was a grand mind opening experience to me.

How do you charge your batteries? What other passions and creative interests do you have?

Charging batteries is very, very important for the creative process because creativity tends to dry out under stress and pressure. At least this is true for me. To charge my batteries, I need to be in a quiet place, if possible in nature, or to be with people, who are very inspiring, with fun and good conversations. Also going to museums and art galleries is a great source of relaxation and inspiration for me. So I find many ways to charge my batteries in my life.

What does the connection between manufacturing tradition and contemporary design mean to you?

I feel that a profound knowledge and mastership in traditional manufacturing is a very good base for creating contemporary jewellery. I am not sure, that it is indispensable, though.

Which material have you not yet used is a temptation and a challenge for you?

Gold I have hardly used in my work so far, and would like to go more into working with it, also with Japanese techniques of mixing metals.

How was the pandemic period for you as a jewelry designer?

It did not make a great difference to me, I still went to my studio, was quite productive and delivered the pieces to my galleries, participated in shows, but what I could observe, however, was a slowing down of sellings.

How do you see the future of contemporary jewelry?

I think, there is a growing interest in contemporary jewellery – in which direction it will develop, I have no idea, and it does not interest me much, since I only create, what I consider beautiful, and what I want to wear myself.....

Afla mai multe despre designer Renate Erlacher