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JAWA

"We're José Augusto Wong Cordero and María Isabel Abarca de Wong, both born in Lima. We've joined our lives as husband and wife, and also as jewelry designers. We both share the pleasure of creating a new piece, so our professional name, JAWA, comes from the initials of our two precious children. All our love and effort are dedicated to them."

"My artistic formation began when I was very young. I've always liked to paint and to make things from a variety of materials," José says. "I'd describe my work as different, unique, as I am innovative. At the moment I'm creating a design, I don't see jewelry in my mind but nature or objects that can be crafted of silver, as it is so flexible and malleable that it lets you transmit your thoughts.

"I began studying graphic design at the age of 14. After that, I studied advertising art in Lima and then multimedia design in Rochester, New York. Finally, Isabel and I decided to study jewelry crafting together.

"I've worked in jewelry since the end of 2005. I find inspiration in nature, in living creatures and in imperfect forms. I feel a need to look to all of these to create a piece of jewelry. I try to transmit plasticity, as our designs aren't everyday images. They express a personal vision, interpreting things real or imagined through fluidity and movement. When we show our jewelry to others, I feel satisfaction for their taste and appreciation of our work. This inspires us to continue, creating better designs day after day," he concludes.

"I'm Isabel and I began working in this artistic world through my husband. I'm grateful to José for motivating me to study jewelry and also that I'm able to dedicate myself to something I'm passionate about," his wife says. "I feel such pleasure when working with certain materials. I feel a total satisfaction. I'd describe my work as natural, filled with the love and romanticism I put into each piece.

"I always try to work with total freedom. This is what excites me most in creating each piece. When we exhibited our work, it was great. I remember that I was very nervous at first, but then I relaxed and enjoyed that moment to the maximum with José by my side.

"To Novica shoppers, I'd like to say that we place all our feelings in our designs and each piece is crafted with total dedication. Our jewelry is influenced by nature's little details."