By Cynthia Unninayar
In 776 BC, the Olympic Games enjoyed their beginnings in
ancient Olympia, as part of a religious festival in honour of the
Greek god Zeus. Many centuries later, an artist and jewellery
designer from modern Athens was chosen to redesign the
Olympic medal. But her other remarkable creations would also
make Zeus very proud.
Elena Votsi is not only proud of the Olympic Games,
but also takes pride in her country’s ancient past. “If
you live in Athens, you walk on ancient streets. You see
ancient sculptures. The Acropolis, for example, reminds
us that we have a great archaeological heritage,” muses
this award-winning jewellery designer.
The olympic medal by Elena Votsi’s |
Pride in this heritage is one of the inspirations for her
jewellery designs, many of which are sold in the gift shops
of such august institutions as the Acropolis Museum, Benaki
Museum, the National Gallery-Alexandros Soutzos Museum,
and the Cycladic Art Goulandris Museum, among others.
Couture Award-winning ring. |
But this trained artist and painter turned jewellery designer doesn’t just look to the past
for ideas. “Sometimes, it comes from a picture, a movement, a feeling, a shape,
the way the light hits an object in the morning sun, or even contemplating the
universe,” explains Elena. Thinking about the heavens was certainly a source of
inspiration for her award-winning golden spiral ring that won last year’s Couture
Design Award in the “Best in the New-to-Couture” category for designers who
exhibited for the first time at the prestigious Las Vegas show. “The spiral represents
the life-giving elements of water and sunlight while the motion evoked by the 266
brilliants captures the unstoppable expansion of the cosmos,” she adds.
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On a more earthly level, Elena Votsi has taken part in major design exhibitions
around the world with hand-made pieces that range from angular geometric
shapes to voluminous spheres to colourful diamond, gemstone, and South Sea
pearl pieces, all set in 18K gold. The men have not been left out either as can
be seen in her collection of colourful cufflinks. Her design talents have also been
recognized by some of the world’s most prominent fashion brands, among them
Gucci where she worked for three years.
Currently, her artistic creations are being
sold in galleries and shops in Greece, of
course, but her designs are attracting
more and more attention in the USA,
which is fast becoming her major market
as more and more new stores welcome
her high quality artistic designs; designs
that reflect history, luxury and art; designs
that are truly Olympic Gold.
www.elenavotsi.com