Souls in a precious form. 
INSPIRATION AND PHILOSOPHY
My entire life, being born and raised in 4 different continents of the world has influenced my creativity with a fusion of many opposites, enabling me to understand that, after all, nothing is ‘different’ and we are all part of the same uniqueness, intended as the notion of being unique but also as the notion of being different.
The philosophy of my creations aspires to this very concept: the fact that we are all part of the same ONE, each of us in our own uniqueness, as we learn in yoga which means to unite (from sanscrit word yug), if we manage to see beyond the duality we all are one, united in our uniqueness.
At the beginning of my creative journey, my work was the artistic expression of my nomadism with ethnic and ancestral symbol being researched and expressed. Nowadays I ‘play around’ with introducing alternative materials, technologies, finish, coating and exploring new ways of working with beauty in unconventional manners.
Symbols, their meanings and other elements of nature, arts and architecture continue to inspire me so my creations unite tradition and innovation, the past with the future in a contemporary way.
The common denominator will always be to create one-of-a-kind experience, a sculpture to wear but carefully maintaining them ergonomically correct and with high craftsmanship contents.
‘Souls in a precious form’ is this, a reflection the person’s frame of mind wearing it.
All my creations come from an interior experience and each piece has a name, a story, a concept, a research in terms of materials and an emotion that have inspired them.
Such adventure becomes even more unique when I am asked to create them bespoke. Then begins the one to one relation in which I dive in the world and spirit of the person commissioning the jewel…as a revelation of a small part of a of her soul to me.
ARTS AND DESIGN
I started with precious, pieces of art jewels with a concept and a soul and as the years went by I always looked for the essence of beauty, freed from the commercial value. The concept and message always came from a personal experience and vision of existence.
I have played around with ebony, oxidized metals, titanium, PVD, springs, enamels, tree bark, bronze and many other alternative materials because art, beauty and design must transcend value and classical paradigm but speak directly to the soul.
As time goes by I increasingly feel the healing force that beauty and spirituality bring to the Soul. This is why I research its expression through objects that can adorn a home or the body just in the same way.
Presentation at the Vatican
In 2023, Cristina created a piece for His Holiness Pope Francis for the Visit of the Regent Captains. The piece, known as the “Sun-Christ”, is silver on olive wood, a production technique borne from an almost twenty-year professional collaboration between Cristina Rotondaro and fellow Italian jeweler Nico Giordano. The piece, on the theme of transmutation, was received and blessed by the Pope.
The message of the work is to recall the protection of God the Father and Christ his Son on Earth, during these times of profound uncertainty, against constant attacks on the fundamental values of the Human Being and His Spirit. Our highest self, the one that resides in the Soul, must not give in to the most earthly self that must constantly face destructive forces. The image shows no more suffering, the Crown of Thorns dissolved, with an ascent to the Light, a supernatural light that demonstrates the transmutation of matter and non-matter.
santo marino
My relationship with the most ancient republic in the world, also known as the Republic of Freedom and as the State that never having entered into any war, the Republic of San Marino, date back as far as 1977 when I was 10 years old and I moved from Morocco there.
My father was the first Ambassador ever in its history.
Since then I never forgot my 5 years lived there, its people, my friends, my first crush, my best school years and much more.
Today I am so proud to have created a jewelry line and having identified in the painting of the 19 th century Emilio Retrosi one of the most iconic symbols of the Saint inside his almond shaped luminous Aurea The Saint Marino collection is composed of Pin for suits, bracelets, necklaces and rings all existing in silver and in gold version.
On the occasion of the State visit of the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella to the Republic of San Marino last 6 December 2023, the Ecc.mi Captains Regents chose to give a 6 cm tall, 4cm wide silver sculpture weighing 70 grams that was one of a kind and took several months to be created and finalized.
Executed with fine workmanship and mastery in several stages, it is made in digital sculpture inspired by the picture of the Ritorsi located in the Hall of the Great and General Council where Santo Marino thrones in its highest spiritual dimension and identity symbol of the Republic.
The elements of the image were separated and modeled in bas-relief using different graphic software which was followed by the phase of high-definition wax prototyping with 925 ° / ° ° silver investment casting with chipping and finishing by hand according to traditional methods and with abrasives, brushes and bulins. This technique has conferred high quality of jewelry, the mirror polishing of the base and bas-relief welded in a single piece by laser allow you to preserve the natural shine of silver where it will only be the passage of time that will change the colors and shades of this noble metal.
Milan Expo & ArtRio
Cristina’s iconic, multimedia e-KGilibrio necklace was unveiled at the Milan EXPO 2015, with a launch at the Triennale Museum of Milan. The event’s theme was: “Nourish the Planet, Energy for Life”, and the piece invites us to consider how the elements of nature should be in harmony. In addition to the unveiling in Milan, the necklace was also presented at ArtRio 2015 in a collaborative event with Harper’s Bazaar Art.
Cristina’s worldview is evident in the creation of the necklace. The piece calls for balance and invites reflection on the drama that afflicts the environment on a global basis. To do so, Cristina used a large black opal to symbolize the Earth as seen from space, and blue sapphire and diamonds to illustrate the universe. To the left and right she used three very precious stones to illustrate nature’s elements: Paraiba tourmaline for Water, Emerald for Earth, and a collection of Orange, Red, and Yellow sapphires for the Sun.
From Cristina's point of view, we humans must assume the role of guardian of the earth and its natural and symbolic riches. Each material that comprises e-KGlibrio refers to the urgency of maintaining this harmony.
Jewelry Design Benefiting the Christ the Redeemer Sanctuary
Cristina is known in Rio as a supporter of local NGOs. As such, Cristina and the Archdiocese of Rio are longstanding partners in a fundraising jewelry collaboration for the benefit of the Christ the Redeemer Statue and Sanctuary. This partnership began in 2016 and continues today.
From her atelier with a view of the iconic statue, she approaches the project from a human and symbolic perspective. The triangular shape of her design, known as the Skin of Christ the Redeemer, is a purposeful choice. While from a distance the statue looks like a smooth surface, the skin of the statue is actually formed by numerous triangular pieces of sandstone. Also, in a little-known fact, everyday citizens of Rio were the patrons of the project. During the construction of the statue, builders pasted the names of donors and families on triangular pieces of paper on the sandstone.
These triangles are only visible when viewed very close up. This vantage point is very different from the bird’s eye view we so frequently see. With her insider knowledge of the statue and her continual mission to capture souls in precious form, Cristina’s piece is a unique, profound interpretation of this international icon. In this way, she pays tribute to the people who silently contributed to the creation of the statue.
Today the collection features two versions, both in sterling silver. One shows a version of Christ with open arms and the other a profile of his face, and each one is available in two sizes.
womb of life
My first approach to metal sculpture was in 2015 while living in Rio de Janeiro with the ‘Womb of Life’ a description of the different stages of life. It was done with the bullets melted and casted in a foundry in the favela and then oxidized to become green.. it is the story of the a pregnant belly called the 'Womb of Life' that contains the entire life cycle: a crystal foetus for the pre-birth, a nest with a kite representing childhood, its carefreeness and nurturing quality, a leather book as the symbol of all the school years, a long necklace made of pearls and other colorful beads representing adulthood with happy, sad and wise moments, old age represented by a cane... and then death made of an opaque crystal ball of smoke quartz containing the ashes.
VENICE’S ART BIENNALE
On the occasion of the 54th International Art Exhibition of Venice, "ILLUMInazioni", Cristina Rotondaro was chosen to present her jewelery creations at the "Luce in Azione" exhibition of the Pavilion of the Republic of San Marino, in the section "Fuori Salone, Inside the Biennial".
And it is precisely in the theme of the exhibition that much of the artist's study and inspiration can be found, who sees Light as a moment of inner research but also as an aesthetic message, because light is at the origin of energetic and emotional action of both the artist and the spectator.
"Exhibiting at the Biennale is a great honor for me, because it embodies my desire, through my creations which have always been inspired and developed around conceptual, artistic and philosophical work, to get even closer to art in its most profound sense. deep." - stated Cristina Rotondaro - "Light is the narrative tool par excellence in the creation of a jewel, and this exhibition represents the best contamination and fusion of different styles and forms that I could aspire to."
This is why the use of a material such as crystal, an emblem of purity and shine, which here becomes a symbolic key to understanding all the creations presented: as in the "Poesia" pendant, in which a message, engraved on the gold, unrolls under the crystal, almost as if it wants to be removed from the egg that encloses it.
The egg is a metaphor for birth, but also for the transformation of what does not appear from the outside; and it is the light that, by manifesting itself, makes not only the message visible and possible, but the transformation itself. In the "Lente Interiore" collection, the purity of mother-of-pearl and the precious brightness of diamonds are enclosed under a crystal, a lens that invites us to observe, amplify what is deep down, hidden, but kept in each of us; the Light. That which man has within himself, in his soul, is a very precious spark which in the most diverse sacred and philosophical texts is testimony to the divine origin and first impulse to action, while in others, almost in contrast, it is "ratio", the mind, which can determine the superiority of man. The "Crystals of Light", a creation different from the others, more angular and multifaceted, whose shapes reflect the complexity that every human being can sometimes externally assume, appearing sharp, with faces that reverberate discordant colors depending on the light that illuminates them. The golden threads as a metaphor for the bonds, which, however precious, cage, but also which hold together what would only be a fragment scattered throughout the universe without harmony or direction.
Finally, the "Mantra Amor Vincit Omnia" ring, with a rounded crystal cylinder, which rotates around this maxim and in doing so becomes a Mantra like the Tibetan votive wheels, a wish, a choral prayer engraved on gold and projected towards the world: may Love, with its intrinsic Light, win over the blind darkness of the ego of individuality.
Biography
Cristina Rotondaro, born in Kenya and daughter of an Italian Ambassador, grew between Kenya, Morocco, San Marino, the Philippines and Brazil.
She completed the degree in Business Administration and furthered her education with a Master in International Affairs at Master at Johns Hopkins SAIS.
Her work experience began in the Marketing of the fashion company producing avant-guard brands of the early 90’s such as Fendissime, Marithe Francois Girbaud and Katherine Hamnet and soon after she moved at Saatchi & Saatchi advertising. After her Master she entered Bvlgari, where she stayed six years. This was a fundamental experience in the world of gems and Cristina felt passionate about the jewelry industry, getting familiar with both gemology and jewels production process.
In the year 2000 she started her own career as a designer, creating and launching her own brand: EKA ‘One’ in Sanskrit which she then dropped to just use her full name.
Her first jewelry collection took form from contemporary ethnic research gathered through her numerous journeys across the world. Her creative path then evolved towards different interpretations of subject matters, ranging from the the four Elements, dream worlds, architectural structures, art music, fashion, psychology, Buddhist, Hindu and yoga sacred tests.
A regular yoga practitioner – with an Iyengar Yoga Teacher Diploma achieved at Paris Centre, under the guidance of Sri Faeq Biria – she often takes this discipline as a point of reference for many of her inspirations both from the use of symbols and for its millennial philosophy.
In 2003 Cristina started selling at Barneys New York and at other Barneys stores all across the United States of America.
Between 2003 and 2012 the creations of the designer, appreciated among others by the Queen of Jordan, are distributed also by Harvey Nichols in London, by Holt Renfrew in Vancouver and by exclusive retailers in Capri and Milan. Her flagship store in Rome, Rampa Mignanelli is mentioned as a “jewelry of the city“ for two years in the city Guide Louis Vuitton.
In 2011, Cristina exposed as unique jewelry designer at the 54th Biennale of Venice Arts.
In 2015 she launched the collection “One of a Kind”, created in her own Atelier do Horto, at the Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro.
In the same year she presented at the “Triennale” of Milan an iconic piece for the EXPO 2015 in Milan, called “e-KGilibrio”. This same art piece was presented in Rio in an event organized together with Harper’s Bazaar Art Magazine.
In 2016 she has the honor and exclusive permission from the Rio de Janeiro Archidiocese to create the jewel “The skin of Christ the Redeemer”, her line completely dedicated to social causes.
Increasingly interested in using unusual materials such as oxidized bronze, Brazilian and African wood, enamels, glass and silk threads, her creation moves more and more towards arts and finest craftsmanship, seeking preciousness and uniqueness.
The latest ‘Trasparenze’ collection continues to explore materials, symbols and multicolored lights of stones and transparent glazes.
In 2022 Cristina moved to Los Angeles and she deepened her work with sculpture as a way to express her understanding of Anthroposophical concepts, symbols and messages. Since the 90's she had studied the 'Science of the Spirit' founded by Rudolph Steiner and grew increasingly involved also with the Waldorf Pedagogy that stems from it and has actively worked for it. The Sun-Christ was created in early 2023, as a gift to his Holiness the Pope Francis on behalf of the Heads of States of the Republic of San Marino.
Cristina's first approach to metal sculpture was in 2015 while living in Rio de Janeiro with the 'Womb of Life' a description of the different stages of life. It was done with the bullets melted and casted in a foundry in the favela.
