In the backlanes of Sanur, within a stone’s throw of the Bali Hyatt, is the studio of Shunyata, a brilliant and passionate maker of jewelry. Seventeen years ago, when this tall pony-tailed American first arrived in Bali he began fashioning malas or prayer beads, mandala, incense holders, holy water dispensers and other objets d'art for temples. Perhaps appropriately, these meditative accessories led to golden jewels with a purpose.
But his love of beautiful objects began much earlier than his arrival on Bali, having been involved in art and design since he was a young boy when he created interiors and drew mural paintings. “Kind of like logos for rooms, if you can imagine that”.
But Shunyata was a restless kid. He left home at twelve years old and never looked back. By the ripe old age of 20 he was designing and operating cowboy discos in Houston, Texas. His early success was fueled by the great pleasure he took in contributing to the joy of others.
His close affiliation with some of the most successful people in the entertainment industry made it clear that he did not want his life to resemble theirs. He changed his life radically and modeled Levis and Guess Jeans in Paris, appearing in Harpers, Vogue and a number of other glossy fashion magazines.
Since then he has taken up residence in Paris, London, Sydney and Italy. “I guess my whole life has been quite unusual but I am most grateful for the mentors I’ve had”, one a student of Matisse with whom he studied sacred geometry and ancient architecture.
Under the brand name Zoëin, an ancient Greek term meaning “that which does not die or fade away”, Shunyata has designed more than 3000 unique pieces, or what he calls “golden treasures”. He produces about 200 “treasures” a year, some taking up to a year to complete. Prices range from $450 to $75,000.
I began by asking him what is the process by which he creates a piece of jewelry? “My jewels are the end result of an elaborate, creative process. First comes the idea, the inspiration. This often forms around a theme as determined by cyclic influences. For example, if the New Moon occurs in an air sign like Gemini and its correlative Full Moon in a fire sign like Sagittarius, then we would seek to create pieces that are either representative of the air or fire element”.
Besides gold and emeralds, he works with many other precious stones, including some really rare and hard to find materials such as the vibrant purple sugalite, hand carved fossil ivory from the glaciers in Alaska, as well as jade, amber, rubies and sapphires. “Gemstones form over millions and billions of years. Our lives are but a blink when compared to such immense periods of time”.
As Shunyata explains: “The gems and materials are also vital to the initial concept and design. One could not make bread if the possibility was not already present in the flour. A gemstone, fossil or gold itself has a unique signature in the epic of creation and it is this prime innateness that we must listen for and develop an understanding of. Each stone has an ideal setting, and it is this ideal that we seek to express”.
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Nature’s plan was what produced the gem, gave it its color, hardness and shape. This plan is as well present when the stone comes to be set. The orbits of the planets are in perfect attunement, the beak of a mocking bird is specially designed to fit in the deep cup of a trumpeted flower. It is this perfection of nature that I seek to mirror in my work. Jewelry is not only a craft but the perfect medium to enliven the golden truths of this awesome universe”.
Shunyata got his deep interest and commitment to astrology as a child and learned a great deal from the work of Dane Rudyar. “Astrology like life and design is all about cycles and relational positions”.
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My clients are all successful people and appreciate the extra care that I take to make my pieces the absolute best they can be”. Jerry Spires, who owned the World Trade Center NYC before it was hit by the plane missiles, collects some of my work, and Jerry Hall was pictured in Cosmopolitan wearing some of my pieces. Most of my clients like their anonymity, but my good friend Hari Darsono, a famous designer who does Haute Couture for royals around the world, wouldn’t mind the mention!”
What kind of people collect your jewelry? “Every type of human being can find something to relate to in my pieces. Our clients include royalty and stars, scholars and priests, teachers and executives, the unemployed and the eccentric, the sorts of people who are stimulated by a treasure hunt in every sense of the phrase. My clients are the ones who succeed at finding gold at the end of the rainbow”.
Contact Shunyata by calling tel. (62-361) 289-420 or on his handphone 081-2363-9326 or check out his homepage: www.zoeinjewels.com. Call for an appointment to visit Zoein Sanur Studio, #13 Gang 1, Jalan Duyung, Sanur.
Suggestions for interviews or comments may be sent to pakbill2003@yahoo.com
Copyright@2003 Al Hickey
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