At Surmeyi, the philosophy of belonging is deeply woven into everything we do. Everything we design, we ask ourselves one question – how would it make you feel? We love to translate emotions into designs. In dance, they call it the Rasä. It's hard to put into words, but its presence is undeniable to the heart. It's the juice, the very essence of something.
The meaning of the word Rasä
- In Indian classical dance and aesthetics: The aesthetic flavor or sentiment evoked in the audience by a work of art, such as dance, music, theatre, or literature. Originating from the Sanskrit word meaning "juice" or "essence," Rasa is a fundamental concept that identifies the emotional essence conveyed by the performance.
- Usage in performance: In dance, performers use movements, expressions, and gestures to evoke these Rasas, aiming to create an emotional connection with the audience and achieve a heightened state of aesthetic enjoyment.
The design process as choreography
We spoke to over 25 dancers late last year and that inspired us over the last few months to do a deep creative synthesis on how we want to translate dance as a language into jewelry. While the process wasn’t linear — and chaotic to say the least.
As we explored, we saw dance as more than just movement; Indian classical dancers use their bodies to create a form of visual poetry called ‘Abhinaya,’ guiding the audience through shared emotions and invoking various Rasäs. The use of gestures, facial expressions, and body language to embody characters and tell stories inspired us to see how we could translate different emotions in our designs. We also looked at how space, dynamics, and rhythm in dance could inform our visual compositions and design elements.
While our inspiration began with Indian classical dance, our journey didn't end there. By the end of our creative process, we focused on universal elements—movement, expression, and emotion—that transcend cultural boundaries:
- Fluidity: First, every piece in Rasä will embody movement or give the illusion of it. Even if a design isn't physically moving, its fluidity will capture the idea of motion.
- Cast: Second, we've crafted a beautiful cast of characters or motifs for Rasä. These motifs, like The Sun, The Moon, A Fish, and my personal favorite, a Mogra Bud, will tell a unique story in each piece.
- Emotion: Lastly, a core aspect of Rasä is the emotional response it evokes. We want these pieces to make you feel something profound when you wear them. We've identified four emotions, or Rasas, that resonate deeply in today's world.
So in this collection you’ll see us featuring some beautiful new motifs that are in movement or have a fluid perception of movement and come together in a design that evokes a Rasä! More on the cast and Rasäs in the next post!