Bucharest city tales: The raw, yet undiscovered and under-appreciated talent of highly creative Romanians

Columnist Eleonore af Schaumburg-Lippe writes in her weekly column about life as an expat in Romania. This week she tells how impressed she is with the creativity she has seen recently among Romanians. When I was a little girl, around 10 years old, my father once asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I think my answer at that time was to become a firefighter, I am not sure he was so pleased to hear that answer from his little daughter. He then told me something his father had told him when he was young. Buy a piece of land and then develop a practical, artisan or artistic talent, then you will always do well in life. Of course his advice even then seemed a little outdated, but there is something to these words that makes sense. And since then I have been in search for my talent, but I can’t sing, paint, draw, make things from clay, sew clothes or knit. I've tried them all, but I I just don’t have the patience to make these things. I like to write, but that is not really a talent or a handcraft. So probably when I get older, I will find my handcraft talent. As a result, what really impresses me here in Romania is how talented most Romanians are, many of my friends have a real talent in painting or drawing, they call themselves amateurs, not artists but I believe they rank much higher than that, because there is a raw talent to be found here in Romania when it comes to being creative. They sadly don’t get the chance to show what they create, and often their creations are in a “secret” room at their place. Unless they are lucky enough to be part of a major event. Whenever I can, I attend creative events, and I have been to numerous events with Romanian designers within fashion, architecture, jewellery or creative work. Each time I feel amazed by the innovative and out of box thinking, and how skilled Romanians are at creating, and usually do it on a very low budget. Romanians have a hidden talent, it not is usually something they brag about, but when they allow you to see what they create, you will be impressed. Some collect things, some can create amazing paintings, design, drawings, some make paintings on t-shirts. Recycled materials are used, for example plastic or paper transformed into handbags or necklaces, I have even seen a necklace made out of the corks of soda bottles, I have seen delicate and elegant dresses, and not to forget the Romanian blouse, the Ie. If the usual 'one person business' could get some support to turn their creative designs into small companies, I really think this could lift the whole image of Romania, so Romanians could be known for their talents when it comes to craftsmanship. Often here they make beautiful things, in a way I have never seen before, but they make them with such ease, like saying: “ah, well, I just made that for fun.” I can see great possibilities of exporting the Romanian design to other countries. I would actually go that far as to say, that I believe Romania is probably one of the most creative countries in Europe. There is this undiscovered, raw material of creativity here in Romania, that just doesn’t get the acknowledgment it should. We can see that in advertising - the Romanian Agency McCann won in 2011, with their ROM campaign the Gold, Bronze and Silver at Cannes Lion, equivalent to the Oscars for movies, so indeed there is an international potential hiding in Romania. Currently, this year's Cannes Lions Competition is running and I cross my fingers for Romanians to win again.