I was born in Timisoara in 1997, as a little introverted girl for whom paper and paint were the natural means of expressing herself. I discovered my ikigai at the age of 7, when I was introduced to origami (paper folding). At that moment, I didn't know origami was going to change my life so much. I continued to delve into it daily, for hours, devouring all the study materials I could find. By the age of 11, I had memorized hundreds of patterns, which gave me a deep understanding of the geometry behind this technique, enabling me to use the constraints of the folds to my advantage, creating my own patterns.
Inevitably, a Japanese universe formed around me, with origami at its center. I studied the Japanese language, culture and arts, and even went on to live and study there for a while. I like to say that I found my ikigai because my love for origami and Japan has remained as strong as it was at our first meeting. I wake up every day grateful for being able to pursue my passion.
During high school, I sought to find the applications of origami so I could bring it closer to the public. At the age of 18, I started creating paper accessories, which turned into a jewelry brand.
Since 2018, I have focused my creative activity on making art installations. In most of my works, I use a single sheet of paper, using only folds as a means of expression. Through my works, I aim to offer the public a different perspective, filtering each theme through my Japanese way of thinking. The paper I use is handmade in workshops from Japan and Southeast Asia. For me, handmade paper feels alive because it holds the energy of the place and the artisan who made it.
Since 2024, I have established my own workshop where I make my own paper to use in my future works. I use only local bark but process it according to the principles of washi (traditional Japanese paper). I boil the bark and beat it by hand to preserve the fiber.
Themes of my works range from nature to the human condition, or the Japanese philosophy and society.
However, all the pieces share the same message: paper is a living matter. It has the immense power to carry on the emotion of the hands that touched it. Think of what you feel when you’re reading an old book. Have you ever felt a connection with its previous owner while touching the pages?
For this reason, I started producing my paper. I wanted to put into it all my feelings, all my stress, and all the thoughts I had through the creative labor. I let my paper speak for myself.