In Bhagya Sivaraman’s home studio, she sits surrounded by art – her black lines on white paper cover the walls. Near her desk, there is a large stand on which hang rows of earrings, each of a different size, shape and colour. There are bright pinks, checked patterns and sunny yellows.
“For me, art is meditation with open eyes,” she says. She is wearing large, black and white earrings from her brand, Coloured Years. In early 2018, the interdisciplinary artist recalls how she began working with polymer clay. “While I loved wearing and collecting silver and stone jewellery, I soon realised I was allergic to nickel. I wanted to create something I could wear without worrying about being allergic to it, and that led me to polymer clay,” she says.
Bhagya Sivaraman | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
It took her two years to practice, and she remembers burning the material, and even injuring herself during the making process in the early stages. Six years later, Bhagya knows how to work with polymer clay, a harder modelling clay, and uses surgical stainless steel or titanium (on request) for the back of the earrings.
There is an 18-step process involved in making it, and it is this process that led her to fall in love with colours and the infinite possibilities of colour combinations. Every piece comes with a name and significance. Soul, Terrazzo Stones, Kintsugi and Andromeda – these names reflect her inspiration behind each earring.
These earrings are made of polymer clay and surgical steel or titanium. Photo courtesy: Special Arrangement
Though the earrings are available in a range of sizes from tiny studs to larger pieces, all are extremely lightweight. “At pop-up exhibitions or markets, I encourage customers to try the earrings on to see how light they are. The material is durable and doesn’t break easily,” she says.
Her stunning jewellery comes with multiple tags—luxury, sustainable and gender-fluid. Every piece is unique, one-of-a-kind and handmade, which earns it the luxury tag, says Bhagya. “The materials used may not be sustainable, but I make sure I don’t waste clay. If a piece breaks, it goes back into the making of my next batch.”
Ananya Panday wore coloured earrings for choli at Fashion Week Finale 2021 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
While building a customer base in Chennai, Coloured Years walked for clothing brand Bodice at the Lakme Fashion Week Finale 2021, where actress Ananya Panday was the showstopper. Their jewellery was also worn by the models who showcased designers Pankaj and Nidhi’s collection at the fashion week that year. “For New York Pride in 2023, I was asked to send jewellery for designer Mayur Girotra’s collection, and it was an exciting project to be a part of,” says Bhagya.
Her jewellery has given her the opportunity to meet and work with people she admires greatly. During a show in Chennai, writer and artist Alok V Menon wore Coloured Years jewellery on stage. Another collaboration that has excited her is custom-making jewellery for actress Alia Bhatt for a soon-to-be-released ad campaign.
In March, Bhagya showcased her jewellery at Cluster London’s contemporary jewellery art fair, which brings together jewellery designers from around the world. “I hope to start ranges in a few years – maybe colourful neck and hand pieces? Or even brooches,” she says.
A model wears Colored Ears earrings at New York Pride 2023 as part of Mayur Girotra’s showcase | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
As a consultant in the social sector working with organizations focused on the rights and welfare of women and children, art has been a connecting force in Bhagya’s life, having integrated it into much of her work with women and children. While The Coloured Years continues to grow, her line drawings are also making their way into interior projects and private collections.
She says, “I am expressing myself at the intersection of different art forms – my art also has abstract jewellery and abstract expressionism. It’s heartening to see so many people coming forward to support it.”
Colourful Ears Available Online colouredears.com. Follow them on Instagram @colouredears. Prices start at After 900.
