At Bhagya Sivaraman’s residence studio, she sits surrounded by artwork — her black line drawings on white paper cowl the partitions. Close to her desk, is a big stand from which dangle rows of earrings, every a special dimension, form, and color. There are shiny pinks, checked patterns, and sunny yellows.

“Artwork, to me, is open-eyed meditation,” she says. She is sporting a pair of enormous, black and white earrings from her model Colored Ears. Early in 2018, the interdisciplinary artist recollects how she started experimenting working with polymer clay. “Whereas I cherished sporting and hoarding silver and stone jewelry, I quickly realised that I used to be allergic to nickel. I wished to create one thing that I might put on with out having to fret about creating an allergy, and this led me to polymer clay,” she says.

It took her a few years to practise, and she or he recollects burning materials, and even injuring herself through the making course of within the preliminary phases. Six years later, Bhagya is aware of her method round working with polymer clay, which is a hardenable modelling clay, and makes use of surgical chrome steel or titanium (on request), for the backs of the earrings.

The making entails an 18-step course of, and one which had led her to fall in love with colors, and the infinite possibilities of color combos. Every bit comes with a reputation and significance. There’s Atma, Terrazo Stones, Kintsugi, and Andromeda — the names encompassing her inspiration behind every earring.

Whereas the earrings vary from small studs to giant items, every part may be very light-weight. “At pop-up exhibitions or markets, I encourage clients to attempt the earrings on and see how mild it’s for themselves. The fabric is sturdy, and doesn’t break simply,” she says.

Her eclectic jewelry comes with many tags — luxurious, sustainable and gender-fluid. Every bit, Bhagya says, is exclusive, one-of-a-kind, and handmade, which earns it the posh tag. “The fabric used won’t be sustainable, however I make sure that I don’t waste clay. If a bit comes out damaged, it goes again into the making of my subsequent batch.”

Whereas constructing a buyer base in Chennai, Colored Ears walked for Bodice, a clothes model, at Lakmé Vogue Week Finale 2021 the place actor Ananya Panday was the showstopper. Her jewelry was additionally worn by fashions who showcased designers Pankaj and Nidhi’s assortment on the trend week that yr. “For New York Delight in 2023, I used to be requested to ship in jewelry for designer Mayyur Girotra’s assortment, and it was an exhilarating undertaking to be part of,” Bhagya says.

Her jewelry has additionally led her to assembly and dealing with individuals she deeply admires. Throughout a present in Chennai, author and performer Alok V Menon donned jewelry from Colored Ears onstage. One other collaboration that has her excited, is custom-making jewelry for actor Alia Bhatt, for a soon-to-be-released advert marketing campaign.

In March, Bhagya showcased her jewelry at Cluster London’s up to date jewelry artwork honest which introduced collectively jewelry designers from internationally. “I hope to introduce classes — most likely Colored Necks and Palms? And even brooches, in a number of years,” she says.

As a guide within the social sector working with organisations focussed on girls and baby rights, and well-being, artwork has been a binding power in Bhagya’s life, having built-in it into a lot of her work with girls and youngsters. Whereas Colored Ears continues to develop, her line drawings too are making their method into inside tasks, and personal collections.

“I’m expressing myself on the intersection of various artwork kinds — there may be summary jewelry, and summary expression in my artwork as properly. It’s heartening to see lots of people coming ahead to assist this,” she says.

Colored Ears is accessible on-line at colouredears.com. Observe them on Instagram @colouredears. Costs begin from ₹900 onwards.