Introducing Eva Anna Gulacsi of EVAANNA
people • makers
Founded just a few months ago, EVAANNA creates functional art objects crafted from solid brass and bronze. My mission is to elevate the everyday by transforming ordinary objects into beautiful heirloom-quality pieces. I believe that art shouldn't be confined to museums or galleries; it should be an integral part of your daily life, enriching even the most routine interactions with your home.
WEBSITE: evaannaobjects.com INSTAGRAM: @evaanna.objects
Words: designeers
September 2018
designeers
Describe what you make:
eva anna
In my first collection I created cabinet knobs, wall hooks and door handles. They are small details in a space that are often overlooked, but I believe they are an important part of the overall look and can add an extra layer of depth to an interior.
designeers
How did you begin creating functional art objects?
eva anna
I started as an architect, but I quickly realized that it's really hard returning from maternity leave as a female architect - we can get sidelined in design decisions and relegated to less challenging tasks. The constraints of motherhood, like needing to leave early or being unavailable for late nights and weekends, can further limit opportunities. I didn't want to be the one that gets sidelined, so I was looking for something I could do alone, in my own terms. As I've been missing creating something with my own hands, I enrolled in a metalsmith school where I fell in love with the material. What fascinates me the most working with metals is the magical ability to transform this hard and resistant material into something beautiful.
designeers
What inspires you the most?
eva anna
Lately I'm inspired by imperfections and irregularities, rawness found in various mediums: in ceramics, architecture or even in a tree bark.
designeers
What is one Eva Anna piece you shouldn't live without?
eva anna
My favourite thing about my knobs is that they can also be used as wall hooks. I created my pieces to be future heirlooms: imagine moving and taking your EVAANNA knobs with you. What were once treasured cabinet knobs transform into wall hooks in your new space, carrying memories and seamlessly adapting to your home's story.
“What were once treasured cabinet knobs transform into wall hooks in your new space, carrying memories and seamlessly adapting to your home's story. ”
eva anna gulacsi
designeers
What do you do when you're not working?
eva anna
I have three kids and a husband, so I'm never bored! We usually spend our free time on playgrounds, but we're waiting for the children to get a little older so we could take long walks in nature together.
designeers
What does a typical day look like in the studio?
eva anna
You would think that I'm behind the bench all day creating my objects and living the artist life, but that's actually a very small part of my day. I answer emails, send out quotes, negotiate with stores, handle social media...it's hard and a lot of work to do everything alone, but I enjoy all the different tasks. And I'm also working on my new collection, which is truly refreshing, after spending months creating knobs my new works will be completely different!
designeers
Tell us what sustainability means to you:
eva anna
In the past I though of it as an inconvenience, that designers can't create freely because they have to design sustainably. Now I think there is no other way to create, a good design is not a good enough design if it's not sustainable. In relation to my objects it means that they are made to last for generations, crafted without any coating that could wear off throughout the years, but with a living finish that creates a beautiful patina, so my pieces will look even better with time. I am also trying to make the manufacturing process responsible, fortunately working with metals are quite sustainable, I can always reuse and recast any leftover materials. The same applies to the clay I use for modelling.
designeers
Favourite songs to listen to while working:
eva anna
Lesley Gore - You don't own me. It makes me think I'm capable of anything!
designeers
Favourite hotel in the world:
eva Anna
Szegzárd the lodge in the Hungarian vineyards. It was designed by my husband, so I'm a little (a lot) biased, but it's at a beautiful venue with carefully designed details.
designeers
What are you inspired by?
eva anna
As a metal artist I love the work of Alexander Calder, I find both his mobiles and his wire sculptures fascinating. As for the functional aspect, I admire Margit Tevan, a Hungarian metalsmith who worked around the same time as Calder. She created boxes, vases and plates, and decorated her works with figurative motifs shaped in reliefs. Having a woman artist like Tevan from a period often dominated by men is particularly inspiring.
