‘As an artist and a jeweller, you must find a way to accentuate the natural elegance of what are arguably the most beautiful materials found on earth,’ says Brazilian-born, New York City-based Ana Khouri. A background in Fine Art, with a specialisation in sculpture, informs her rings and earrings which work with the curve of the body, bringing a sensuality to warm fairmined gold.
The pieces in her new collection loop around the ear and fingers in smooth whorls of gold. For the first time, Khouri has photographed her campaign imagery herself, a move which forces her to consider the pieces through a new perspective.
‘Photography allows you to see the world and light in a whole new way,’ she says. ‘Photographing these pieces has been a completely immersive experience, and brought a sense of closure. It was the first time I’ve chosen to step behind the camera and photograph my own work. Seeing the jewellery as a photographer adds another layer of understanding to the creations that have been with me for so long. It gave me a sense of wholeness.’
The sensual photography is a fitting foil for the simplicity of the jewellery, which stays faithful to Khouri’s design philosophy of bold and thickly drawn silhouettes. ‘The feeling I want to impart is one of radiance, in every sense: that of light, of emotion, of energy and, of course, that of beauty. My work is continuously evolving, however, my design philosophy remains the same: simplicity in composition and in motivation. Exploring the myriad ways that a piece can take shape on the wearer and the balance the work creates with it.’ §
