Romanian Paper artist Cristian Marianciuc, known the world over for his paper cranes, talks about his medium and materiality, in an interview with Sonalee Tomar.
I love paper because it is a ubiquitous and unassuming medium. But one that can be transformed into something very precious.
Romanian Paper artist Cristian Marianciuc
Please tell us a little about yourself, what brought you to the world of paper art and how did you start?
I am a Romanian paper artist, originally from a very small town in the north-east of the country, one of eleven children and very passionate about languages.
In 2015 I started a project with the purpose of dealing with my then depression in a positive and creative way. The idea was to create a visual diary, a very personal yet public one. Each day, for the duration of 100 days, I would fold and decorate one origami crane and share it on my newly created Instagram account. The 100 days turned into 365 days and eventually into 1000 consecutive days of folding and decorating paper cranes.
What is the primary role of an artist? How do you describe yourself in the context of challenging people’s perspectives via your work and art?
I believe that the role of the artist is to translate his or her environment and experiences through the prism of their original “language” – be that a specialized skill or a variety of skills.
More recently I have started to introduce myself as a paper sculptor. I feel that this title is explicit enough to offer an idea of what I do, but also one that requires several other questions in order for the person asking to grasp the concept of what I really do. And that discussion is always a good start as far as I am concerned.
How do you deal with the conceptual difficulty and uncertainty of creating work?
I have learned to rely as much as possible on my instinct. Even if most of the time I start off not having a clear structure to what I am about to create. This approach has spared me many an existential question!
I describe what I do as paper sculpture. I also sometimes refer to it as ‘origami plus’.
Romanian Paper artist Cristian Marianciuc
What would you call your style? Lets talk about the evolution of your practice over the years. Tell us about your commitment to your current medium.
As I mentioned before, I describe what I do as paper sculpture. I also sometimes refer to it as ‘origami plus’. The vast majority of my work has an origami crane at its centre. This crane serves as a blank canvas of sorts.
I constantly explore new techniques and sources of inspiration, so I am in a process of continuous evolution while holding on to something familiar and something that offers cohesion to the entirety of my body of work.
I love paper because it is a ubiquitous and unassuming medium. But one that can be transformed into something very precious.
What inspires you? Lets talk about your frameworks, references and process.
Everything and everyone has the potential to serve as inspiration. So far, I have drawn it from Japanese culture and from my own cultural heritage: Romanian folklore. Greek mythology is also something I turn to often. But I would say that nature is my main muse. In particular the anatomy of birds and the structure of flowers and plants.
Lets talk about your career, or if you prefer artistic journey. What were your biggest learning and hiccups along the way?
I am thankful that I adopted a principle very early on in my artistic journey, and that is to always be original and to offer up my personal perception of the world in what I do. Since plagiarism is such a large issue nowadays, I am extremely happy to have been able to stick to this principle.
What are you looking for when you look at other artists’ work? Which shows, performances and experiences have shaped your own creative process? Who are your maestros?
I try to look for an artist’s voice in what he or she creates. That something which sets them apart in a sea of uniformity. I tend to focus more on personal experiences for my work, rather than drawing on the work of artists I admire. My work is highly personal and I try to add as many layers of meaning as possible to each piece I create.
Think of the biggest professional risk you’ve taken. What helped you take that risk? What is the best piece of advice you’ve received? Why was it helpful?
I would say that the biggest risk I took in terms of my artistic experience was to become an artist full-time. I didn’t quit my regular job right away in order to do that, and it was a rather long process, so it isn’t a sensational story. But it’s now been almost two years since I made that decision and I am still happy I made it. It isn’t a perfect situation, but the thought of doing what I love and being able to support myself at the same time is all I can ask for!
Tell us about your art studio, what kind of place is it? Could you describe your usual work day in the studio?
At the moment, I do not have a special space dedicated exclusively to my work. I work out of my bedroom, which is not the ideal arrangement, but I have adapted. I have a very large table with a cutting mat on it, and I have to confess that most often than not, my workspace is in a state of organized chaos.
Cristian Marianciuc on nocturnal inspiration
I have a notebook close by at all times, and whenever I get an idea for a design, I sketch it down. Being a night owl, most of my work gets done in the evening or well into the night. I try to go outside for walks as often as I can; it really helps me to clear my mind and to achieve some sort of balance in my day to day life.
What was your first sale? Do you handle the commercials yourself or is it outsourced to a gallery/agent
I made my first sale while I was still doing my 1000 cranes in 1000 days part of the project. A client from the United States insisted that I create a replica of one of my cranes for her. And I obliged. I sold it for a very measly price, but I think that many artists have the same story to tell. Once I decided to sell my work on a regular basis, I sat down and did the maths, and came up with a pricing system that would help me make a living from my work. I am in charge of all the operations currently, but I would not be hesitant to work with a gallery or agent in the near future.
How does your audience interact and react to the work you put out into the world?
The response to my work has been overwhelmingly positive. Since it is such a personal expression from my part, I believe that it resonates louder with a wider audience. I try to answer all the comments and all the messages I receive, even if that means setting some time aside from my day to do that. I regularly receive emails from people who have been impacted on an intimate level by what I do, and that is such precious ‘fuel’ for me whenever I feel that my creative energy is depleting.
What are you working on now? What’s coming next season?
At the moment I am working on an ongoing collection that uses smell, and to be more precise – fragrances, as direct inspiration. Smell is so closely linked to memory, and memory is a major source of inspiration for me. With each piece, I try to translate the different notes in a fragrance with the help of textures, colours and shapes and I attempt to create little universes and stories that the fragrances create in my mind. It has been an amazingly challenging but also rewarding endeavor.
Are you more of a studio artist or naturally collaborative by nature?
I do not mind working on collaborations from time to time, but at my core, I am a bit of a lone wolf so to speak. Having collaborated in the past, I plan to continue to do so in the future, with artists who use different media in their work. I always love a challenge and new ways to expand my artistic horizons. But I find that working alone has the potential to produce more intimate and more meaningful creations.
Cristian Marianciuc on commissions
As for commissions, they are an important part of my repertoire at the moment. I currently have a handful of commissions that are at different stages of completion. I thoroughly enjoy them – bringing to life work that represents me as an artist but is also meaningful and personal for someone else.
Contact Cristian Marianciuc : marianciuc.cristian@gmail.com
Before you go – you might like to browse our Artist Interviews. Interviews of artists and outliers on how to be an artist. Contemporary artists on the source of their creative inspiration.