WITH THE JEWELRY DESIGNER ONAIDE AKAEVA, WE FIRST MEETED THIS AUTUMN AT THE CEREMONY FOR THE AWARDS FOR THE BEST JEWELRY DESIGN WITHIN THE DUBAIEE INTERNATIONAL JEWELRY. HER MASTERPIECE “COMING ANGEL” RECEIVED A MAIN PRIZE IN THE “OBJECT OF ART” CATEGORY AND WITHOUT DOUBT, BECAME THE MOST ORIGINAL AND OUTSTANDING PRODUCT PRESENTED TO VIEW. TWO WINGS - BLACK AND WHITE - IN A SILVER MOLDED FRAME, CONNECTED BY A BRIGHT RED STONE - THE ETERNAL PLOT OF THE FIGHTING GOOD AGENCY AND THE SHOWER SYMBOL TORNED BY PASSIONS. THE PURPOSE OF SUCH WORKS, RECOGNIZING THE MOST IDEAS, IS TO INCLUDE THE ATTITUDE OF PEOPLE TO JEWELERY, WHICH CONSIDERED THEM JUST AS JEWELERY, AND NOT IMAGES. ABOUT THEIR APPROACH TO JEWELRY, COOPERATION WITH THE ROYAL FAMILY OF ABU DABI, TEACHING ACTIVITY AND NEARBY CREATIVE PROSPECTS, THE DESIGNER TOLD IN INTERVIEW.
Naida, please tell us, when did you choose jewelry as your vocation? Do you continue the dynasty or become the first master in your family?
I have been painting since five years. At age 12, she entered the art school in Makhachkala. I had a choice - work with glass, metal or ceramics. I chose the metal. So, perhaps, it all started. Since 16 years I have been making jewelry, mainly from silver and natural stones.
There were no jewelers in our family, but we are well connected with art - my dad is a sculptor by profession. I always loved to observe the process of his work in my little workshop, I looked as bewitched.
When I chose to study as an artist, my parents fully supported me, for which I am very grateful to them!
How did you get to the Emirates?
I came here ten years ago. I studied at the Stroganov University and worked at a jewelry company in Moscow. Once, one of our colleagues went into the workshop and said that the Emirate Sheikh was recruiting a group of specialists to work in a factory in Dubai. The task was to produce unique luxury goods, watches, jewelry, expensive gifts with an emphasis on Arabic culture.
So I found myself in the Emirates, immediately after graduation. I worked in this company for three years, after which I decided that it was time to move on. In 2005, she began working as a designer in the jewelry company of Sheikh Takhnun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where she worked under the direction of master Asbad Kurdian, with whom I have been working to this day.
They say that you worked a lot with the royal family of Abu Dhabi, made jewelry for them?
One of our customers was Sheikh Fatima Bint Mubarak Al Ketbi. For her, we made, for example, a necklace with emeralds weighing 40 carats.
What do emirati sheikhs prefer to wear today?
They are very fond of colored stones - rubies, emeralds, of course, diamonds. However, working with such a high category of customers is not easy, they carefully select the masters.
What materials do you like to work with most?
I love silver. Of the stones - almost everything: natural, semi-precious and precious - from tourmaline, agate and rose quartz to emeralds and sapphires. In fact, I like to combine very hard and very soft materials - an interesting contrast is obtained. Now I’m working on a collection where silver, brass, copper, wood, leather, organza will be used - a lot of different in nature materials.
I heard that you also teach in Abu Dhabi.
Yes, I run express jewelry design courses for adult students at the Office of Art and Heritage Art Workshop in Abu Dhabi. Many of my students have already won prizes at international competitions. In addition, I have been teaching courses “Fundamentals of drawing, painting and sculpture” and “Second-level drawing” at the University of Zayed for three semesters.
Where you can be seen in the near future - are you planning new exhibitions, collections presentations?
First of all, I’m thinking about registering my own brand. However, I would not want to name it, for example, Naida Jewelery - it seems to me that this topic is rather hackneyed. In February in Abu Dhabi we plan to implement a charity event for children with special needs, but now I would not want to talk about this in detail. I will definitely let you know in advance.
Thank you very much for the conversation, Naida, and further creative success to you.
