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Colours, design, decisions… this is how the creative process begins at the Explore workshop, a small but growing business born out of passion: a love for creativity, environmental responsibility, interior design and unique home décor pieces. We are honoured to be given a glimpse into the world of these extraordinary lamps and to meet Kincső Kádár, whose story began in childhood.
When I walked into your workshop, we felt as if we had entered a world of little elves, where everything is filled with colours, tools, brushes, paints, screwdrivers and, last but not least, a very welcoming atmosphere. Who is Kincső Kádár?
Oh, thank you so much for your kind words! Welcome to my workshop! I consider myself a very lucky person because every day I get to do what I love most. I create out of passion, playing with textures, materials and colours. Curiosity and my love for natural, environmentally friendly materials allow me to be grateful every day for what I do.
Tell us a little about the Explore brand.
Explore is a one-person business. I work on my own in a small village near Miercurea Ciuc, driven by passion and creativity. My work belongs to the creative industries, and I always say that I combine craftsmanship with design. My focus is always on the client who approaches me with an idea, which I then try to bring to life and personalise, while leaving a little Explore signature on every piece.
Your creations are unique lamps. They are statement pieces in a room. What we see here are contemporary creations featuring traditional motifs. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I grew up in the city, but I spent much of my childhood in a small village in Székely Land, where nothing was impossible for my craftsperson grandparents. They had a solution for everything, and later they became mentors to me both personally and professionally. I made my first handmade gift when I was about six years old, for my grandfather’s birthday. I still remember the flower arrangement I made from a coffee tin and a few pieces of wire. In the countryside, the workshop or the barn was always a city child’s playground. I had my own tools – a saw, hammer, vice and pliers – and I was allowed to use them to make anything I wanted. My grandparents also taught me how to sew, embroider, knit and crochet. This is how I discovered the rich motifs found on woven towels, sheets and traditional garments. I think this is where my love for handmade, beautiful and practical objects began.
The entire creative process requires a great deal of technical knowledge. As you mentioned, the saw, hammer and wire are tools you use every day. Learning traditional crafts is becoming fashionable again these days. Where did you learn your skills?
It is important to mention that being creative and having technical knowledge are not enough. My technical skills are complemented by my mother’s love, as well as by my search for harmony and peace, which help me breathe soul into the objects I create. It is therefore no coincidence that I later studied ethnography and cultural anthropology at Babeș–Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca. Completing my studies and spending ten years working in museum education, where I was constantly involved with different exhibitions, kept me continuously inspired and helped develop my connection with, attitude towards and respect for handcrafted objects and built heritage. I love challenges, creative activities and working on themed creations. This is how the idea for Explore was born, with two distinct categories.
We see unique forms that we have not encountered before on the Romanian market. We know that you always keep environmental responsibility in mind and pay close attention to the materials you use during the creative process. How does the material you work with connect to your passion?
Some Explore products are made from recycled materials using a perforation technique. These lamps are unique thanks to both the recycled materials and the distinctive decorative technique.
For the products in the second category, I reuse cultural elements and values. I love drawing inspiration from the motifs found on buildings and in public spaces, as well as from anything around me that carries cultural value.
When we look around, we see tins of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, both full and empty. Colour and uniqueness are important to you. Tell us a little about your experience after many hours of work.
My aim is to bring a personal atmosphere to the homes of people who love stylish, affordable and environmentally friendly accessories. The lamps contain at least 50% secondary raw materials, so my business contributes, step by step but with great commitment, to creating a more beautiful and cleaner way of life while reducing waste. And yes, I love using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint decorative paint. When I developed my own methodology, it was important to me that it be authentic and carefully considered. An environmentally friendly material would not be truly authentic if it were finished with a product that was harmful to our health or the environment. So I simply did my research, explored the market and came to the conclusion that the chalk paint developed by Annie Sloan in Oxford, in her own workshop, was the product I wanted to use. It was love at first try! Its simplicity and elegance perfectly reflect the elegance and simplicity of my products.
What kind of material do you actually work with?
It is a local product because it is made locally, using local waste materials, and it aims to contribute to the character and identity of a village located 11 kilometres from Miercurea Ciuc. The people of Sântimbru know that I work with waste materials in a small traditional farmhouse, transforming them with the beautiful shades from the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colour palette.
Their versatility and the ease with which I can apply them are a great help to me. Their pigmentation and the story behind each individual colour give me a sense of confidence.
We know that you are a member of the Annie Sloan România community. What does this community mean to you?
First and foremost, it is a community from which I can learn a great deal. They are always there to lend a helping hand whenever I need it. We support one another, and I don’t think there has ever been a question left unanswered or an uncertainty that we couldn’t resolve together. I approach this community with great curiosity because there are so many of us, and we are represented by extraordinary creations. I know that my projects also have a place in this community. Many of my loyal customers are members of this supportive community as well. I am very happy that we support one another and that the spirit of social entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly widespread in our society.
Let’s highlight one more thing! Everything seems so natural – and it truly is. From the surroundings and the photographs to the clothes you wear. You pay great attention to detail.
Yes, absolutely! Nature and naturalness are principles that have guided me since I began my creative journey. It has become clear that simple things can create real value over time. This is what my husband, Albin Gábos, also tries to capture in the photographs he takes of my projects – he is a photographer. The workshop is located in an old traditional farmhouse that we renovated ourselves. Its simple architecture offers a clean and minimalist setting, making it the perfect place for creating. The harmony of my everyday life would not be complete without the creations that I am happy to wear in the workshop, at meetings or at exhibitions. It is important to me that the clothes I wear are made from natural materials, which is why, for example, I love wearing wool.
We hope that Explore Lamps will find its way into as many homes as possible, becoming both a statement piece and a high-quality, locally made decorative element.
Products: Explore Lamps
Photography: Explore
Clothing: Lanelka