NOVICA Artisan Deni Aryasa
Deni Aryasa
“My name is Ketut Deni Aryasa. I was born in Semarang, Central Java. It's the hometown of my mother, but my father is from Bali. We moved to Bali when I was just a little boy.
“Bali is an unlimited source of inspiration. Every aspect of Bali is an interesting detail to be transformed into jewelry that is enriched with artistic value. Bali is not only the place where we create the jewelry; we also bring Bali to the world through our designs. Bali has a very long list of traditional myths, legends, rituals, arts, and even daily activities. These precious ways of life have been the inspiration for the magnificent silver and gold jewelry that we make. Putting Balinese tradition into jewelry that you can wear every day is our expertise. We would like to raise these values and introduce them to people around the world.
“I'm married, and God blessed me with four children: two daughters and two sons. As a parent, I do really hope for the best for my children. They also have a big opportunity to change the world. Whatever they want to do, I will always support them. They should work and do something with their passion; that would be a huge chance to make the world a better place for future generations. I adore Mahatma Gandhi and his wisdom. I learned a lot from his words, especially from this quote: "Be the change that you want to see in the world." I realize that if we want to change the world, we must start to make a change from within ourselves.
“Because of a lack of access to the international market, most Balinese silver jewelry has become just souvenirs, sold at a really low price. Because of this, young silversmiths started leaving the trade to look for other jobs that would give them more income. So in 2007 I decided to start my own jewelry company. By making our pieces, we hope that more local people will be inspired to join the industry. My dream is to show the world that Bali hasn’t lost its ability to make silver jewelry. Through our jewelry designs, we proudly introduce Bali’s rich culture to people around the world.
“My team focuses on building teamwork instead of working individually. Strong communication is the main requirement for each member, since we have so many steps to go through, including sketches, approval of the design, wax carving, molding and casting, as well as the finishing. We use sterling silver and 18k gold in our designs. We order our silver from a local supplier, because the best quality of silver that we can find is from Bali.
“My staff is just like family. We now have more than 30 workers, and we give precedence to the local community when we take on more silversmiths. This helps the local people to find jobs, feed their families and improve their lives.”
