Lena
Lena is an architect and artist who constructs jewelry from a place of storytelling and honors the meticulously ornate quality of Brazilian craftsmanship. She is passionate about connecting with people as she travels throughout Brazil with the intention of cultivating moments with people who share her values, passions and love of storytelling.
She was born and raised in São Paulo and studied to be an architect. The lineage and role of Brazilian women in her life has immensely shaped her artistic perspectives.
Upon going to school in France, she discovered the immense rich design ethos that people drew from Brazilian culture and made a commitment to fostering a deeper exploration and understanding of the roots of her own culture. Her family is from the region of Minas Gerais, which is where all of her materials come from. In immersing herself in the land, she came to find an ephemeral understanding towards the innate qualities that compromised her ancestry.
“In the valley of Jequitinhonha met the women of that region which is when I realized that I wanted to incorporate their pieces into my work. Oddly enough that is the region where my mother was born.”
Unearthing her own innate connectivity of the elements within the region formed a seamless quality in honoring the women in the Valley of Jequitinonha. She felt a familiarity and deep admiration with them that reminded her of her grandmother’s spirit. It is in this way with each hand molded ceramic bead, woods and crystals, she meditates on memories and places an energetic quality that protects, honors and energizes in each piece.
“Most of the pieces correlate with the line of life which is made up of moments and days. It is not monotonous, there are ups and downs in our lives which is why there is a variety in the pieces. The crystals in each piece represent big moments in our lives that could come as lessons, good days or bad days but they will mark us. When you step back and look at the piece in its entirety it is harmonious as such life is.”
Each piece tells a different story and is imbued with the land. They are called As Chuvas (rain), because rain is considered sacred where the clay beads are made in the Valley of Jequitinhonha in the north of Minas Gerais. Different colors are from the earth and come from traditional techniques passed down many generations. The crystals and semi precious stones offer energy and transformation. The beads are connected through the Burti thread, which is a fiber from traditional Brazilian palm.
Lena’s work and process is rooted in a deep appreciation and passion towards honoring and supporting the women of her community. She is deeply in tune with her connectivity to her surroundings and draws from her environment, food, memories and feelings into every modality of creating within her jewelry. The alchemy in her artistry is a dedicated approach to keeping the traditional craftsmanship and stories of Minas Gerais alive to enrich the lives and spirits of those who wear them.
