By Cynthia Unninayar
When you look at the jewellery of Yael Sonia, creator of the
award-winning “Perpetual Motion” collection, with its swinging
pendulums, rolling spheres, and spinning tops, it is immediately
apparent that they are more like wearable art in motion.
Yael Sonia, looking through one
of her award-winning Perpetual
Motion pendants |
When most teenage girls were thinking about ways to
celebrate their “Sweet 16” birthday, Yael was designing
herself a special ring. “I have always been fascinated with
jewellery,” she says, “but not just any jewellery. I love art and think
of jewellery as a form of art.” Later, she studied design and
goldsmithing, receiving her BFA in Metals and Jewelry. “I started
out working only in metal, and the Femininity Collection was my
first.”. “Whenever I get time to sit down at the bench and create
one of these pieces, they fly out the door.” With the graceful
lines and forged hollow design, it is easy to understand why.
A pair of Reverse Fit
earrings dating to 1997,
still popular today. |
Growing up in Brazil—and now sharing her time between New
York, Paris, and São Paulo—it was inevitable that the young designer
would eventually turn to more colourful creations. “I love colour, and
appreciate the beautiful gems of Brazil. In fact, it is where I feel most
creative. I spend several months a year at my studio and showroom
in São Paulo, fine-tuning my designs and producing the collection.” She works
with local stonecutters to obtain the impressive one-of-a-kind gemstones that her
skilful goldsmiths turn into her very limited Perpetual Motion collections.
“Mother’s Love” Femininity pendant, An early pair of
Femininity earrings
(1998), still much
in demand today. |
Encouragement for Yael came early in her career. Her very first Perpetual Motion
piece was a finalist in the first Tahitian Pearl Trophy, and subsequent models went
on to win many other awards.
When not in Brazil, Yael lives in New York where in 2007—only ten years after
her professional debut—she opened her own boutique at 922 Madison Avenue.
The store has rows of colourful candy-like gemstones and visually interesting toyinspired
pieces, moving and swinging with an energy all their own. “A client who
walks into the store immediately sees that everything moves, rattles, and comes
alive like in a child’s universe,” she adds.
The original Perpetual Motion
necklace created in 1999 that
started the series. |
The untraditional pieces by Yael Sonia have a certain museum-like quality about
them. For this reason, perhaps, they find an enthusiastic clientele in galleries and
with private dealers in the USA, Brazil, and France. Béatrice Trelcat, director of
the Galerie Elsa Vanier in Paris, specializing in contemporary design, explains, “We
have been showing Yael’s work for five years now. At first, we had to educate our
clientele to her range of colours, the cut of her gemstones, and her unconventional
settings. It takes time to fully appreciate the details of these intricately designed
pieces.”
2011 diamond and gold
“Spinning Top” pendant. |
What’s coming in 2012? Yael will continue limited pieces in the Femininity Collection
and Deco lines, while of course adding to her popular Perpetual Motion lines, all
evoking art in motion.
www.yaelsonia.com.br