The Bite Magazine - issue 16

W hen was the last time you took a real moment and gazed up at the night sky? Did you see our shining moon beaming down, or perhaps a twinkling blanket of a galaxy of stars? Maybe even a shy wink from seductive Venus or red smirk from Mars? Oh, the heavens, how they can transfix and inspire the imagi- nation while entangling the senses. Given such otherworldly stimulation, it isn’t a huge surprise that for thousands of years, man has looked to the skies for insight and tried to capture its expansive beauty. But how can one really catch a falling star? Pretty impossible no matter what medium one may use to try and express the awesomeness of space, however, one such artist has taken it upon herself to try and present celestial bodies and the textures of nature in a more simplistic, elegant and wearable form of jewellery. Rising Portuguese jewellery designer, Lia Gonçalves draws inspiration from the organic shapes of planets, comets and moons as well as the natural textures and simple movements and fluidity found therein for her latest collection series entitled ‘Planets’. Born and raised in the scenic seaside town of Viana do Castelo in the Norte Region of Portugal, it’s easy to see how this young designer is influenced by nature’s raw beauty, (she basically grew up in a gorgeous ‘wish you were here’ postcard!) Initially Gonçalves wanted to become an architect, but later chose to study jewellery and earned her under- graduate degree in Jewellery Design in 2005 and later, her Masters’ Degree in Product Design from ESA/Matosinhos (Escola Superior de Artes e Design) in 2009 with her thesis covering Portugal’s traditional artisanal mastery of filigree work. However, contemporary design is where her talents and heart lie and she finds herself most inspired. In 2010, she decided to apply her education and expe- rience by launching her eponymous label, LIA GONÇALVES. With her love of the modern and contemporary approach to design aes- thetics, one can see how her pieces shift between fine jewellery and structural design. This harmonious partnership seamlessly reflects her preference for a minimalist style while simultaneously showing a deep concern about the func- tionality of the item. Gonçalves also takes into account the raw materials she uses in her work and their effects on the outcome of each piece. By choosing to work exclusively in sterling silver in finishes of natural silver, and bleached, golden, oxidised and golden rose, she ensures that she hand makes each piece in her northern Portugal studio. Her influences can be traced from her past love of creating art from things around her. As a child she would use sheets from home to sew dresses. This desire to imagine something and then see it through to its final creation by hand was what initially spurred her desire towards becoming an architect. However, she found that with jewellery design she could really get her hands involved in every step of the process. She told fus- caconcept.wordpress.com, “To think, to design, execute and give birth to pieces by my own hands is what I want most.” But what currently inspires her work? Lia Gonçalves Celestial Bodies Take Flight Using her childhood influence of nature’s raw beauty, Portuguese jewellery designer Lia Gonçalves mesmerises Dawn Hunt with her collections of cosmic themed jewellery. bite jewellery