Meet the Maker - Lukas Svyba

This week we speak to Lukas Svyba with his other worldly jewellery with pieces taken from his 'Quantum Bubble' and 'Other Realms' collections. Texturally rich rings that are bejewelled with Sapphires and and mystical Opal pendants that transport you to the other realms.

When did you start creating jewellery?

Since early childhood I loved gemstones and crystals. The first book I ever owned was an encyclopaedia of gemstones and I’ve been hooked since!  I didn’t start making jewellery until the first lockdown happened. I had a decent knowledge of the processes from working at Diana Porter, so I decided to get some tools and play around over the course of the next couple of years until I was confident enough to show the world! I keep learning new things every day and I completely fell in love with the process.

Who inspires you the most? (No rules here, other jewellers, artists or even family & friends)

I’m lucky to have a lot of wonderful friends that inspire me daily. They push me to be better and to be persistent with my jewellery making journey.

Whenever I’m sat behind my workbench coming up with new ideas and exploring new techniques I love to listen to music. Music can make me full of emotion and can paint abstract pictures that influence my creative output. I enjoy listening to alternative artists that take a lot if inspiration in nature and Earth like Aurora, Susanne Sundfør, Agnes Obel and Wardruna.

What does ‘Queer’ mean to you?

Queer is an umbrella term for people who don’t fit into the societal norms of gender identity and sexuality. It’s a word that was reclaimed by the community who decided to embrace and redefine the historically negative meaning. I love using the word Queer to describe myself because it feels like a more fluid term that takes off the pressure of strongly defined labels.

Please can you tell us a bit about your creative process?

My creative process in a way mirrors my inner journey of discovery and exploration of my queerness.

It’s important for me to hold a safe space for myself and create an environment where I allow myself to let go.

More often than not I go into a project without knowing where it will take me and embrace the flow of material.

It is all about unleashing of the repressed, giving in to experience, realising potential, and trusting intuition.

What’s next for your creative practice?

I’m currently teaching myself different techniques for gemstone setting. It has been quite the journey, but it’s also very fulfilling. I really wish to continue learning and developing new skills like enamelling and sand casting.

I also plan to pick up lapidary again soon. I would love to be able to cut my own gemstones by hand and the use them in my designs.

Finally, for fun, what would be your dream piece to make or person to make for?

I would really love to make a big, oxidised silver crown with a lot of texture, set with orange and yellow sapphires. A crown fit for an evil queen. Someday!