I love art and not just the kind I can admire from a distance. I like to wear it! Wearable art, also known as Artwear or “art to wear”, refers to individually designed pieces of (usually) handmade clothing or jewelry created as fine or expressive art. Right now, I am in love with stainless steel wearable art and more specifically, art designed and created by one of my best friends, Ana Paula Rosa. If the last name “Rosa” sounds familiar to you, you will not be surprised to know that Ana Paula is the daughter of Darlan Rosa, a very renowned Brazilian artist. If you have ever been to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, you have probably seen his work around the city. His work is actually displayed in 35 cities in Brazil as well as Canada, Germany, France, U.S. and many other countries. So, my friend is an artist who comes from a family of artists.
As we were sitting around the dining table talking and enjoying a nice glass of wine, I came to learn that Ana Paula started creating wearable art in stainless steel due to her allergy to metals. Stainless steel, which is the same metal her dad has always worked with, is hypoallergenic. So, creating stainless steel jewelry came not only from the desire to create art but also from a desire to wear something that she would not be allergic to. It was a perfect combination!
When Ana Paula started her masters degree in Human Engineering, she realized that she could not find any bibliography related to the production process of stainless steel. That’s where the influence of her dad came into place. Ana Paula’s dad designs in the CAD system, which is the language that laser reads. So everything Ana Paula and her dad design and create, is cut with a laser. From the design until the cut, the process is that of conventional engineering. “The more precise the design, the better the piece can get,” she says. After the pieces are cut, the rest of the process is similar to conventional jewelry. The one detail that is particular to stainless steel is the cold molding. Every other metal like gold, silver or platinum uses heat.
According to Ana Paula, “modern jewelry no longer limits itself by the type of metal that it is built on. It’s no longer limited to precious metals and stones. It’s all about the design. This is what we call contemporary jewelry design”. Ana Paula explains that she explores the characteristics of the metal in a way that the final shape has to be folded and not welt. This, in a way, makes each piece even more unique. Is there anything more chic and elegant than being able to wear a unique piece of art? I don’t think so.
I am super excited to be learning so much about wearable art in stainless steel and I will make sure to share with you all the amazing designs and creations by my dear friend. If you are like me, who chooses everything you wear carefully and who wants to be unique, you will fall in love with Ana Paula’s collections.
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