Jewelry creation is an art therapy for myself. Interview with Rita Besnyoi by Klimt02

Tell us about your background. What were your first influences to be creative and become an artist and what has drawn you to contemporary jewellery?
I originally graduated as an architect, this must be a strong background to look at objects as sculptures or be aware of relations between body and space. Later I studied metalsmithing and goldsmithing in art schools of Budapest, also took international workshops in the contemporary field, and studied art education as well. I use jewelry creation as art therapy for myself, finding a medium that is truly close to my heart, even physically. If I wear a brooch or a neckpiece, it is really a lengthening of my own body and soul.
 

How important is networking for you in your professional practice and what are your preferred tools for this?
I use digital surfaces as a visual diary and feel happy to inspire others, which gives back a lot of energy for me too. I am curious about the stories behind pieces and people, finding new connections and collaborations, and networking is essential for this.


What are your general thoughts on the contemporary jewellery world, (education, market, development...), where do you see chances and where are dead ends?
I create jewelry that is fueled by my own life periods and emotions. I believe, that we have many feelings and thoughts in common, and contemporary jewelry can be a medium to connect us in this general awareness. I also believe that different cultures have a lot to learn from each other, and art markets, jewelry weeks or international workshops are great opportunities to meet and share ideas, mix our common knowledge, and develop new directions together.
 

Thinking about your career, what role do technology and the digital play in your artistic development & communication?
I feel free to experiment with any material that comes across, but sometimes I search for something that can describe what is in my mind. Technology has the responsibility for the future too, to highlight sustainable and renewable materials, natural or biodegradable can also be a message on us to wear. I mainly use materials I can find around myself, I reuse clothes or objects I inherited, which has another layer of meaning. I love to create new textures from natural materials like paper waste, cotton, wood, sand, plants…
 
 
How has your work changed over the past few years and what are you excited about these days?
Moving away from the regular structures of architecture, I managed to go with the flow of emotions and intuition in the last few years, which forms my recent works. Working out my feelings and losses, to slow down in a solo art therapy group with myself is interesting. To capture emotions and be able to communicate the substance of my work to others is even more.
These days I am mostly excited to deepen further in my roots and nature, to discover connections between the subconscious powers that guide our directions, moves our feet and get together people.