Akiko – A Celebration of Design
The Akiko Earrings are a dance of celebration, an expression of emotions deep within the artist, Neha Dani. The original concept of Akiko was born of an inspiration to create a unique and innovative form, that would push the boundaries in design and craftsmanship. Breaking free, without constraint Dani wanted to create a piece that is contemporary and symbolizes jubilation. The earrings are the culmination of that emotion; an expression of movement – like the gliding motion of a ballerina. In its final form I visualized the rhythmic movement of a celebratory dance, frozen in precious stones.
The Metamorphosis from Imagination to Reality
Every jewel by Neha Dani is a challenging artistic endeavour. No two designs are the same and therefore the process always involves a lot of experimenting. A piece like Akiko required much thought and trials before she found its physical form. Working with jeweller’s wax Neha found expression to the free-flowing movement she had in her mind. A jubilant process of experimentation and fun with the turns and angles of the main structure, playing with the visibility of diamonds, evolved into the final sculpture of Akiko.
The Magic of Materials
While designing Neha pays attention to the minutest detail. Besides the glamour of the pieces, the ergonomics and comfort of the wearer remains a significant consideration.” I want my jewelry to be wearable art, yet most comfortable”, says Neha, “Titanium is therefore a natural choice of metal because of its lightness that allows me to create a voluminous piece that is gorgeous yet does not weigh down the wearer. I chose Rose cut diamonds to add magic to Akiko for a couple of reasons. Its shimmering effect would create the play of dancing light. And Rose cut diamonds are equally beautiful on the reverse face, which was very important for a piece like this that would be viewed from many angles.”
The Fusion of Artistry and Detail
At her worktable, Neha Dani is meditative. A sense of calm inspiration flows over her which infuses her designs. For a complex piece like the Akiko, the process of creating the original mould was long and took several rounds of testing. Since her jewelry are cast by the lost-wax method, she needed to be sure that she would get the desired flow of the design. The initial wax sculpture took many iterations before Dani was fully satisfied. The silver test piece was an essential intermediate step in her process to ensure that the geometry would stand the test of the free-flowing design.
The final piece is crafted of titanium – a light, and hard material to work with. It can be brittle and is often difficult to work with, except by seasoned hands. The silver cast allows working out the finer details of the piece and to test its integrity before the final titanium is cast. Dani changed the depths of the titanium ribbons to ensure that each diamond set in it is visible. There are nine layers of titanium ribbons in free form pivoted in the centre, set with rose cut and brilliant cut diamonds. The Akiko Earrings have been fabricated with a very high level of control of the materials and the techniques - achieving the kind of perfection Neha Dani’s creations are known for.
Akiko is an expression of royal celebration, in my eyes. It inspires unbridled exuberance and purple adds to the richness of the piece.
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The final piece is crafted of titanium – a light, and hard material to work with. It can be brittle and is often difficult to work with, except by seasoned hands. The silver cast allows working out the finer details of the piece and to test its integrity before the final titanium is cast. Dani changed the depths of the titanium ribbons to ensure that each diamond set in it is visible. There are nine layers of titanium ribbons in free form pivoted in the centre, set with rose cut and brilliant cut diamonds. The Akiko Earrings have been fabricated with a very high level of control of the materials and the techniques - achieving the kind of perfection Neha Dani’s creations are known for.
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Akiko is an expression of royal celebration, in my eyes. It inspires unbridled exuberance and purple adds to the richness of the piece.
Not to rest on a perfect sculpture, Neha loves to add colour to her jewels. Titanium can be anodized to a few colours, purple being one of them. It’s a chemical process that is fast and fascinating. Akiko was given a purple anodizing, an expression of royal celebration.
A Meticulous Process This process
of give and take with metal and gemstones is extremely rewarding for the artist in Neha. The creative process, which sometimes is exhilarating and sometimes frustrating is her way of interpreting life and its crests and troughs. It took six months to design and fabricate the Akiko Earrings. A tremendous challenge, the final dancing shape of Akiko was born out this intense process.
Akiko is a physical manifestation of jubilation. Expressing her satisfaction of creating this unique jewel, Neha Dani says, “It’s a perfect epitome of my inspiration of freedom. It symbolizes my exciting journey as an artist where I continue to tread unknown paths, searching for new ways to discover myself and the world around me.”