Magazine "Romancing the Stone" — Edition 1
by Shabnam Bhojwani
Some encounters leave more than just an article: Monoju has been featured in Romancing the Stone — Edition 1, a curated editorial project by Shabnam Bhojwani.
Within this publication, the pieces are part of a visual narrative that explores the relationship between material, form, and emotional resonance, positioning contemporary jewelry as a space for artistic research and expression.
Where Art Meets lnteractivity
Monoju, the jewelry practice of Carolina Maffei, is presented as a research-driven project where jewelry becomes a space of interaction between object and wearer. Based in Turin but conceptually unrestricted, her work transforms materials into a language and adornment into an intimate, participatory experience.Her pieces are defined by a bold and expressive approach, inviting touch, curiosity, and engagement.
Drawing from a background that includes writing, photography, and visual arts, Maffei develops a multidisciplinary practice where jewelry becomes a convergence of different forms of expression.
Material experimentation plays a central role: metals, glass, shells, and organic elements are explored not only for their aesthetic qualities but for their limits and expressive potential. The result is jewelry conceived as dialogue rather than decoration.Her process moves from intuitive research to making, embracing unpredictability and allowing materials to guide the outcome.
At its core, her work seeks to transmit emotion — creating pieces that do not end at the surface, but begin there.
Thank you Shabnam Bhojwani for understanding the soul and universe of Monoju and for telling my story with such care and sensitivity.
