Romanian Folk Art: the Value of Ancient Tradition in a Modern World (Part 1)

       

    Today and in the next couple of days I will teach you some secrets about a side of Romania which exist far away in time and space, but during the past few years people have started bringing it back into modernity. After we, as a nation, had enough of modernity and the western world, we started looking towards the past, towards folklore - national costumes and all sorts traditional artefacts with national motives. 

     

     Every year, on the 24th of June, we celebrate the Sanziene, who in Romanian folklore are known to be good fairies, dancing and floating in the air, and blessing the inhabitants of the Earth. Of course, in this part of the year there is an abundancy of folklore events, such as festivals and fairs. And today I attended one of these fairs.

      

    For the last couple of years, this day has also been decided as the International Day of the Ie, which is the blouse of the Romanian popular costume, available both for men and women, and each model varying among the country's region - on a white fabric, different patterns and colours of embroidery. Therefore, this newly found tradition says that all proud Romanians, ladies and gentlemen, living in Romania or abroad, should wear it. And today, in our hectic and modern Bucharest, many people did. And it looked pretty. It looked like "something else" - a nice Ie in combination with a business-like pencil skirt and high-heels is not something you get to see every day. ;) The models and patterns are numerous - as you can see in the pictures. Besides, they are also used on other garnments, such as belts, skirts or trousers. 

          

        Apart from costumes, creativity is at home in Romania. Be it costumes, coloured wool carpets, painting on wood, ceramic art (which will all have special sections in the future), and handmade toys are being rediscovered these days, in their simple beauty, from a world that many young people may not even have met in first person. They are not cheap to buy - but, thinking about all the manoeuver that goes into making them, rightfully so. On the other hand, they give a pleasant feeling: a feeling of belonging. And it is great! :)

       

            

Traditional Culture vs. Modern Culture: Which One Do You Mostly Identify with?

        

      

        I love the fact that my city is having an increasing openness to other cultures, and especially now, as summer has arrived, a broad range of events from various countries are available to the wide public. Every year I attend the Night of the Cultural Institutes, when several European countries put their cultural heritage and their creativity into play, by organizing representative cultural events throughout the entire evening. 

           

      Last year we spoke about the challenges of making such an event attractive, and this year there was something else which caught my attention. Each of these institutes is doing their best in order to offer variety. However, for each segment of the public, some of these diverse events will be undoubtedly more interesting than others. Something that I notice is the fact that in many cases traditional culture (handmade artefacts, flokloric music and dance performances, traditional cuisine) is presented alternatively with modern culture (graphic design, animation, alternative music, modern cinema). The former represent a very "colourful" part of a nation's culture, the point of curiosity for most foreigners, but may not be seen as representative of everyday life, just like people don't normally dress in traditional costumes. On the other hand, the latter would only be addressed to a niche audience, and perhaps not everyone would enjoy it. 

           

         Tradition represents the basic part of any culture, and if we're interested in learning about other countries, that is where we should start from. Besides, that could even be combined with something useful in everyday life, such as trying some beginner language workshops, or learning to cook some national dishes. And afterwards, one could move to bigger "missions", traditional or modern, depending on personal taste and interests. Last night, my attention was mainly caught by Turkish and Hungarian art, Austrian and British sweets, but also contemporary theatre performances at the French and Hungarian institutes. Other than that, there have been many more manifestations to choose from.

         

        The final point is that all cultures offer a mix of old and new, and most surely everyone would find something interesting for themselves. But none of these parts should be neglected. If you were to organize such an event dedicated to the culture of your own country, region, or city, what would you do? Which part of your culture do you feel is most representative, and worth identifying with?

Italians Do It Better. Or Should We Say... MAKE It Better!

   

  
     On the occasion on the National Day of Italy, I will share with you something very unique about this country's culture, and which has also been considered branded identity accross time. The generic brand "Made in Italy" refers to products that are entirely designed and produced in Italy, using Italian materials or ingredients. It is used in domains such as fashion, design, jewelry and luxury goods, artwork, automotive industry, cuisine, and so much more. 
   When my family (with my extremely-little self included), first moved to Italy, in the first part of the 1980s, they were a little under shock. Coming from what used to be communist Romania, where merchandise such as clothes, cars and furniture came in a few standard types and creativity and originality were not exactly a priority, we realized that there is something special about all that was "Made in Italy".  I grew up listening to my parents praising Italian brands and products as being refined, original in style, long-lasting, made of good-quality fabrics, and so forth. "Real wool", "real leather", "real goose feather" - things that in Romania were rare at that time. Years later, and as I had the chance to see and test with my adult perception, I still agree. Whatever that is "Made in Italy" has a special personality. 
   But what do people who study or work in fields such as fashion, design or luxury goods have to tell us? I asked two very good friends of mine to share their opinion. What makes "Made in Italy" special, and why should we choose it (especially if we go to Italy)? And here is what they said...
 ... "Think about how many people in the world are able to build a gondola and make it float elegantly, while guiding millions of couples accross the canals of Venice. How many people can turn a vibrant piece of wood into a violin, which afterwards will perform in the world's most elegant concert halls? How many grandmothers can cook exquisite dishes like no one else, using special and rare ingredients? Heritage: all this is the result of centuries of artwork. 'Made in Italy' means artwork, taste, art, naturally born gestures that we, Italians, reproduce on a daily basis without even realizing. 'Made in Italy does not mean fashion: fashion passes, knowledge remains. 'Made in Italy' means luxury, not because prices are inaccessible, but exclusively because savvy, simple and careful hands give live to unique and un-repeatable. Luxury is kept in the hands of our people: Greek, Arabic, Christian, German, Austrian, French, Spanish... Italy is the heritage of all those civilizations who conquered, enriched and robbed it, and which throughout the centuries have given it splendour." (Carmela - Fashion and Luxury Marketing Specialist)
... " 'Made in Italy' has surely been a synonym of high quality for a long time, its fame has remained almost unaltered throughout the years, and it is an established reality in the whole world. There is a very precise motivation behind all this, and it can be found both in the humanistic cultural heritage of the Italian nation, and in the social and economic structure of small businesses and artisans in 'the Boot'. We must keep in mind that on one hand we find the inclination towards beauty, proven by numerous examples in painting, art and architecture. On the other hand, there is a 'know-how' culture, transmitted from generation to generation, mixed with the attention to detail. Today, even though the quantity of manufacturers and artisans of the Italian economic landscape is slowly diminishing, making room for more advanced and Hi-Tech production techniques, the creative capacity and the technical skill remain unaffected, making the Italian product something of exceptional quality." (Salvatore - Industrial Designer)
          Now, something that has been going on during the past years, and which, quite frankly, breaks my heart, is seeing Italian-made products being "defeated" in the competition on the market by international store chains and Chinese shops. Which is a pity! You may not be able to afford clothes from Armani or Valentino, or to drive a Ferrari, but there are so many more options: Italian shop chains and family-owned shops. Even street markets can offer the quality we are looking for. And the quality is visible, in the design and choice of materials. It may not cost 3, 5 or even 10 euro (although sometimes they even do), but the quality is worth even a medium to medium-high price. Look for the "Made in Italy" label, and you will know that you're buying something of very high quality. If you live in Italy or traveling there, absolutely keep that in mind. It is about the country's economy and the work of its craftsmen, but, more than that, it is about preserving a tradition which is about quality and originality. Italians MAKE it better! ;)