Graduation project:
“THE SHRINE”
Heaven, hell, and limbo do not exist solely in the afterlife, they also reside within ourselves.
Two rings, one representing heaven (right hand, left) and one representing hell (left hand, right), adorn hands holding a chain. Suspended from the chain is a pendant: limbo, the balance between the two extremes. The Shrine explores the movement of emotions and experiences. Without contrast, there is no meaning; without fluctuation, there is no value. Rings and jewellery are more than decorative objects; they tell stories and carry symbolic weight. This fascination drives my practice. When we meet and shake hands, we unconsciously perceive the state of each other’s hands, intended or not. A ring, subtle or bold, reveals something about its wearer. Whether purely ornamental, a statement piece, or a symbol of love, a ring is always a reflection of identity. The jewellery I create is an extension of my inner world. I design and craft each piece myself, making tangible the emotions and thoughts that shape me. They symbolize deeper concepts such as melancholy, gratitude, inner conflict, and catharsis, serving as visual expressions of my personal journey.
Both Heaven (the ring on the left) and Hell (the ring on the right) are made from stainless steel tubes, cut with a Dremel and shaped by hand with files. Limbo, the pendant, was hand-sawn from a silver plate using a jewellers saw.
Illustrations and music
I often delve deeply into my projects and seek to expand them across different mediums. To convey the ideas and sentiments behind this project, I have worked with both sound and visuals. For each piece of jewellery, I illustrated a character in its thematic context and composed a musical piece. These compositions are rooted in metal music, which, for me, embodies a raw and dynamic interplay of ebb and flow.
You will be taken to the “Music” page on this website by clicking on any of the illustrations. There, you will find the music videos.
Heaven’s Serenity
Hell’s Bloodthirst
Limbo’s Spiral
“A reflection of my inner world through metal”.
Curious about the entire process and documentation?
By clicking the button below the logo, you’ll be taken to a PDF that contains the full project documentation. It offers a closer look at the process, the underlying research, and the ideas that shaped the work.
Thank you for your time, and enjoy exploring this deep dive into the project.
Graduation project by Manuel Reynaldo Freyre Hechavarria, presented under the name “REY”.
