Francesca Vitali

Statement

I began my journey in the jewelry design after having already started a career as a chemist. In my vision, art and chemistry have found an intersection point in the alchemy of paper jewelry. In ancient times, alchemists have been ambitiously trying to convert common matter into gold. Sharing this grand aspiration, I strive to transform paper, a humble and ordinary material, into precious objects of original and modern design. Paper itself is a product of an incredible transformation: a delicate element derived from a sturdy and rough material like wood. My alchemy continues this transformation process, catalyzing the subsequent metamorphosis, and revealing the dignified essence of this fascinating element. Paper crosses our everyday life continuously and in multiple forms: magazines, maps, shopping bags…. I love to manipulate refined, vintage and handmade paper, but many of my creations are intentionally made out of used paper from these and other sources. I enjoy the idea that fragments of our lives will remain trapped in my paper jewelry. Paper is a protagonist but not the only player in my works. I like to produce unexpected combinations of paper with metal, pearl or unconventional materials.

In my most recent work, I have been drawn by the possibility of incorporating paper elements into fabricated metal frameworks. This combination requires the use of techniques that rarely meet each other. I have elaborated my very own way to mix traditional metalsmithing approaches with embroidery, weaving, or tramp art. These techniques are revisited to confer my productions a unique signature. When I design a new piece, I found myself following aesthetic principles based on clean lines, repeated patterns, and geometric shapes. I also pay very close attention to colors which often become the focal point of my design. After all, I am Italian and colors, traditions and elegance is a heritage that influences my design. 

CV      

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