Recently I went on an amazing adventure traveling in South East Asia for many months. I went across four different countries, meeting local people and learning about their cultures, as well as experiencing a different life style and admiring the landscapes.
Visting markets, rice paddies, tropical beaches, are only a few experiences that inspired me to come back to my studio and create more and more.
During my trip I visited many ethnic minorities (sometimes called Hill Tribes). Most of them wear traditional clothing that they make by hand. It’s always a stunning work of art!
They weave/embroider/batik their wares using very specific techniques and colors they have developed over the years. The motives they use are things or concepts involving their daily lives. Quiet often, they will also wear jewelry typical to their heritage. In some cases the jewelry is made of silver, but often silver is too expansive so they use tins, coins, and other found materials to make their adornments.
Needless to say, as a jewelry artist I was fascinated by their creativity, imagination, and craftsmanship.