Disappearing crafts. Empowering traditional artisans with co/rizom co-founders Alina Serban and Nadja Zerunian – Episode 11

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In this episode Canan and Laura talk to co/rizom co-founders Alina Serban and Nadja Zerunian about the disappearing of the traditional crafts, what does it mean for our society if artisanship dies out, and what tools co/rizom is developing to support traditional artisans. We get to know the master artisans at the heart of this industry, what fantastic skills they possess, and what challenges they face especially during the pandemic. Our discussion is an invitation to reflect together on our relationship with objects, the value we want to give them, and how they impact humankind’s identity. It is also an invitation to step up and take concrete actions to support this industry. Our guests share what you can do to contribute. 


Alina Serban
has been living in Vienna since 2004 enjoying the multicultural vibes of the urban space, being involved in theatre and performance projects, participating in the cultural scene of the city and getting inspiration for her work in political equality & participation.

 She has been working in philanthropy managing programmes at ERSTE Foundation for 8 years focusing on community development, social entrepreneurship and collaboration with Roma communities in Central and Eastern Europe. 

 Her love for the aesthetic and the inclusive work-philosophy was the connector to the world of crafts and the motivation behind setting up co/rizom association together with Nadja Zerunian and Andrei Georgescu in 2018.

Connect with Alina:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-serban-04881b49/ 
www.corizom.org  
Instagram & Facebook @corizom


Nadja Zerunian
specializes on collaboration with global artisans, developing small limited-edition series highlighting the immense potential, relevance & knowledge of local craft. Current projects are in albania, austria, georgia, romania & uzbekistan. After years as a creative force for big international players like georg jensen, calvin klein & the swatch group, she now focuses on the immediate interaction with the makers. In many cases allowing them their first international exposure. 

She advised the ERSTE Foundation Roma Partnership program, was creative consultant for UNIDO, United Nations Industrial Development Organization and is co-founder co/rizom.

 

Nadja in her own words:

I love to tell stories but am afraid of words.  
an obsessive of sorts -
composing & assembling / arranging & rearranging   
to showcase excellence
of master artisans I met over the years.
their competence of making things 
& the ease to materialize thought
demand to be shared.
preserving crafts & keeping traditions alive 
might feel obsolete or seem redundant.
an afterthought. a sentimental notion.
but creating objects
is a fundamental part of human condition
& the beginning of it all.

Connect with Nadja:
www.nadjazerunian.com   
www.corizom.org 
Instagram & Facebook @corizom

Show Notes and Links
co/rizom: www.corizom.org @corizom on Instagram & Facebook
Mesteshukar ButiQ – MBQ: https://mbq.ro
Report: Creating Manufacturing and Handmade: A Sector Whose Time Has Come https://reports.poweredbypeople.io

Music Credits
Migrant Mother by Mild Maynyrd licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License, Creative Commons.

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