Surface Earrings Medium

PLA (bioplastic), sterling silver

5x3,3x1,3 cm
4.7 g each

Burcu Büyükünal, born in 1980 in Ankara, Turkey, graduated from the Department of Industrial Design at Istanbul Technical University in 2003. After working at the jewelry gallery “elacindoruknazanpak” and teaching metalsmithing at the same university, she received a Fulbright Award in 2006 to study jewelry and metalsmithing at SUNY New Paltz, completing her degree in 2009. Upon returning to Turkey, she co-founded Maden Contemporary Jewelry Studio in 2011 with Selen Özus. Since 2005, Büyükünal has been producing her own jewelry while also teaching at Maden. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally.

Repetition has always played a central role in Burcu Büyükünal’s work, reflecting her preference for structure, organization, and attention to detail. While she enjoys the predictability of materials, she continuously seeks new possibilities. The Glimpse series began with her curiosity about incorporating stones in a way that suited her style. By hiding them among wax drops, she made them subtly visible, like small sparks. The casting process often introduces imperfections, which she embraces unless they compromise the piece’s integrity. To explore further, she created stoneless versions using oxidized silver drops to mimic the sparkle of the stones.

The Surface line evolved from her earlier work with PLA filament. Through the use of a 3D pen, she allows the material to flow organically, creating drops and paths similar to those in the Glimpse collection. This approach enhances the connection between the two collections, as both explore the creation of drops in different materials. By combining translucent PLA with silver backing, she adds depth and complexity to her designs.