When did you decide to pick up this craft?
I actually started out making jewellery with semi-precious stones, but when I tried working with glass and saw it melting in the flame, I fell in love. I just couldn’t get enough of the texture, the transparency and especially the endless possibilities.
Did you learn from a master?
I travelled all over Europe, the United States and Mexico to learn from several masters in contemporary jewellery, flameworking, and colour theory. In doing so, not only did I expand my knowledge, but I also got to refine my work and my love for glass grew exponentially.
©Proko & Penka
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
The glass tubes in my jewellery come from the old lamp industry, they were used to extract the air out of the bulbs. By combining them with bright colours, they become contemporary jewellery.
What is less known about your work?
I first wear each of my new creations myself for a while, to test their wearability. Sometimes I also let my grandchildren wear them, to examine the fragility.