Every now and then, a project comes along that opens a door you didn’t even realise was waiting for you. This one began with a phone call about a sculpture trail in Romania — a government-funded tourist initiative in Calimanesti — and ended up becoming one of the most meaningful collaborations of my career.
When I first put in a quote for the job, I knew straight away that I didn’t want to work alone on the ground. Romania has its own rules, rhythms, and ways of doing things, and if the sculptures were going to be completed properly, I needed someone who understood the Romanian wood industry inside out.
That someone was Andreas.
I had known of Andreas’ work for a while, and when the opportunity came up, he was the first person I contacted. What I didn’t realise then was just how much he would shape this entire experience!
Meeting Kenosis
Andreas introduced me to Kenosis, a brilliant company based in Romania whose work immediately struck a chord with me.
Kenosis isn’t just a workshop — it’s an initiative that creates genuine opportunities for Romania’s Roma Gypsy community. They train, employ, and support people who often struggle to access stable work, teaching skills that open up long-term possibilities. They make everything from furniture to bags to jewellery — all beautifully, skilfully crafted. Incidentally, their website is well worth a look: Kenosis.ro
From the moment I stepped into their world, I knew I wanted to be part of it.
Laying the Foundations — Literally!
Once the sculpture trail commission started to take shape, Andreas became absolutely essential.
He sourced the timber, arranged a place for me to work, and navigated the contracts and paperwork — all the complicated parts that come with working for a Romanian company while not actually being Romanian.
Without him, this simply wouldn’t be happening; with him, everything fell beautifully into place.
Hello Garden and the Big Realisation
The company leading the overall project — Hello Garden (hellogarden.ro) — had originally commissioned me for the sculptural elements. They’re fantastic to work with, enthusiastic, creative, and passionate about bringing outdoor spaces to life.
So naturally, when I saw how much Kenosis could bring to the table, I introduced the two teams.
And that’s when things got really exciting!
Because it turned out Kenosis were capable of taking on far more of the project than any of us realised. What began as a small collaborative idea suddenly opened up into a major opportunity — not just for me, but for the entire Kenosis team.
Seeing those two worlds connect, knowing my introduction had sparked something much bigger, was honestly one of the highlights of the whole journey so far.
A Project That Means More Than the Work Itself
I’ve been lucky enough to carve in some incredible places over the years, but this commission feels different.
It’s not just about creating a sculpture trail; it’s not just about the art or the wood or the tools.
It’s about people.
It’s about seeing talent recognised.
It’s about a community gaining work, skills, and stability.
It’s about the excitement of watching a door open for someone else because you happened to know the right person at the right time.
And, selfishly — it’s about the sheer joy of working with a team who care about craft as much as I do!
Looking Ahead
I’ll be sharing plenty of photos from the project and there will be a part two to this story when the sculptures are installed so watch this space!
For now, I’m just incredibly grateful: for the opportunity, for Andreas, for Hello Garden, and especially for Kenosis.
This collaboration has quickly become one of the most inspiring experiences of my career, and I can’t wait to see where it leads next.
