Folklore is an inexhaustible source of art and design, and its magic is sometimes excitingly reflected in modern works of art. This kind of bohemian collection with a rich history has arrived at this year’s Romanian Design Week—a collaboration by Romanian Atelier Kairos, which includes an unusual, stylish, and culturally significant ‘magic carpet’. Let’s explore!
Atelier Kairos is the first brand in Romania to combine tradition with contemporary design: their rugs are made using traditional Tibetan techniques and natural materials, while the result fits perfectly into contemporary interiors. In a world dominated by machine-made products, the brand’s mission is to give importance to the preservation of traditional skills, because every handmade rug has something that a machine can never have: the soul. They often collaborate with other creators in their collections, this time with a designer with Bulgarian roots who currently lives in Romania. The Bulgarian artist Eliza Yokina has reached back to one of the oldest pagan traditions, still celebrated today, which justly deserves special attention.
With colorful masks, monstrous figures, and dance steps, Kukeri is one of the region’s most spectacular winter traditions to scare away evil spirits, which still attracts a lot of attention today. As it’s meant to chase away the evil, men typically dress up in costumes made of goat and sheep fur, wear masks, and scare the winter away with huge bells, sometimes accompanied by their own special dances. The costumes, masks, and dance moves are interpreted as expressions of power and connection to the world of the unseen. The purpose of the performance is to ward off evil spirits, bring fertility and happiness, and clear the path for the coming spring. Since 2015, the Kukeri has been designated as a UNESCO site of intangible cultural heritage.
Like the tradition itself, the designed rugs are full of metaphors. Visually, the colors of the masks are echoed, the shapes evoke the diversity of the costumes, and the layering can be interpreted as a bridge between generations. But the rug is more than that: it is a reminder of the importance of reconnecting with our roots and living our days fully—and of overcoming darkness and turning it into light.
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Photo of Kukeri: Aron Klein