Pushing Boundaries on Golden Layers

In an exclusive interview with MEGA, jewelry design team Kathy Sarabia-Babs and Kathy Gregorio-Añover, as well as multimedia artist Demi Padua go for gold on each of their first collaboration

There are moments when creative forces align, and something truly extraordinary is born. For Kathy Sarabia-Babst and Kathy Gregorio-Añover, creators of custom jewelry, such a moment has arrived, and it’s a daring step beyond the familiar confines of traditional jewelry production. Their boldness enters them into an artistic collaboration that represents a profound symbol of initiative and celebration. It’s a limited collector’s edition that pushes the boundaries of traditional jewelry and into the world of art—specifically, multimedia contemporary art with Demi Padua. 

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Jewelry and art meet

Sarabia-Babst and Gregorio-Añover, the dynamic duo behind Kathy & Kathy Bespoke, have long been associated with the craft of creating personalized jewelry through traditional methods. This fundamental aspect of their brand’s identity stands resolute and unchanging. However, this collaboration represents an exciting departure from the ordinary. It’s a debut, a venture into uncharted territory, where the craftsmanship they hold dear becomes the vehicle for breathing life into an artist’s passion. 

“Every year, we try to come up with a collection that’s different from the last,” Sarabia-Babst says. “It has to be different. Let’s marry traditional and contemporary design.” The brand has never collaborated before, so coming into their 10th year in the business, they just had to push their boundaries. “Let’s make something people haven’t really seen before.”

The genesis of this collaboration traces back to the artistry of Demi Padua, whose work has captivated and inspired the designers for several years. Gregorio-Añover is a collector of his paintings, and she reveals it was an exciting time to work with him. After all, he has a four-year waiting list now.

Padua’s art is symbolism in layers—a collective of discarded elements converging to create something entirely new and beautiful. Known for his ability to weave together disparate elements to tell profound narratives, he found inspiration in the idea of endless possibilities that emerge when they converge. He masterfully combines the beauty found in various elements to create a new semblance.

Sarabia-Babst and Gregorio-Añover wanted to grow into evolution; What was Padua’s excuse? It merely lies in celebration. Out of boundary through his hardships, Padua talks of his experiences. “‘Yung mga success ko, nagiging layer by layer. So, marami akong unfortunate experiences,” He reveals his background, how he had to start working as an 11-year-old boy who never had a birthday cake, new toys, or proper clothes. “Sabi ko, ‘Someday I want to be successful.’” His hard work and determination have exceeded in ways he couldn’t even imagine, even himself. “Puro maraming hardships, pero nagiging successful pa rin ako.” This collection honors that—it honors him.

It became clear that this collaboration was a match made in creative heaven. Demi’s art, characterized by layers of symbolism and intricate fragments, served as the wellspring of inspiration for Kathy & Kathy Bespoke. The result was Golden Layers, a limited collector’s edition that bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary artistry.

A golden layered creation

In the creation of the collection, the duo drew inspiration from the very essence of possibilities. They explored various metal finishes to evoke depth and contrast, employed hand-cut gold to craft intricate layers, combined an array of gemstones to infuse vibrant colors, and notably, embraced filigree and tamburin to bring forth the rich texture in each piece.

The core of the collection lies in Padua’s artistic vision. In the midst of creative chaos, Gregorio-Añover shared her thoughts on their collaborative experience with Padua: “Well, safe to say it’s quite new for both us and Demi because it’s our first time to collab. So, our experience, it’s quite tiring.” This collaborative endeavor required them to find common ground between his artistic vision and the possibilities offered by gold. “It was fulfilling. I’m sure Demi is very content and happy about it because in a way, he feels fulfilled with the outcome because his vision was actually brought to life.”

The decision to create a figurine instead of traditional jewelry was unconventional. “The original plan was a medallion,” Gregorio-Añover explains.  However, Padua’s vision pushed them to expand their creative horizons by sculpting an entire body and embellishing it with gems and diamonds, a departure from his usual head-focused artwork—which is why he did it. His artworks feature only two-dimensional heads no one dares touch, and Padua wanted to celebrate; his body of work now contains a vessel. Gregorio-Añover takes off the piece from its base, admiring the medallion attached with a bail to go along a chain. “That’s why I can actually remove it, the head.” 

When asked about their openness to this unique idea, Gregorio-Añover responded, “Well, we’re very open to it, of course.” This is evidence of their willingness to step outside their comfort zones, a building block into creative evolution. There is no growth in comfort.

Inspired works reflect

Every seven-piece design stands solitarily. It’s a devotion to safeguarding this exclusivity, a manifestation of their dedication to this partnership and vision, guaranteeing the collection’s perpetual singularity. While the rest were immediately sold, the seventh piece with a unique feature, hair, was auctioned off. This piece, laden with diamonds, represents a special connection to Demi’s recent works in Japan, where he explored new artistic horizons. 

When seeking inspiration for these glittery pieces, each design draws its life force from a literal canvas of Demi’s past. They are born from his evolution as an artist, with his works stretching from the bustling streets of Manila to the vibrant tapestries of Tokyo, the enigmatic landscapes of Singapore, and the electric pulse of Hong Kong. These creations breathe three-dimensional life into his two-dimensional portraits, a transformation of perspective that transcends mere representation. Demi’s original paintings, often showcasing solitary heads, now transcend the confines of their frames and emerge as tangible beings. 

His journey is best described as a series of interconnected layers forming a family of pieces that carry the weight of his life experiences. Each layer, a fragment of his artistic evolution, represents a unique chapter in his journey, one that has brought forth these remarkable works of art. With separate pieces of gold meticulously crafted in each design, every layer in the collection holds significance in the artist’s narrative. The deliberate mismatching and disorder in the arrangement of gold layers serve as a celebration of his success.

The triangle, a consistent motif in every piece, was discussed with depth. Demi further delved into its symbolism, “To me, a triangle is ‘yung pinakamatibay na shape, and then the most fragile one.” He explains. “Tanggalin ‘yung isang side of the space, it will collapse.” He mentions the importance of the triangle, its shape and resonance, and why it is essential in life: balance and strength. 

What happens when you converge traditional jewelry pieces with contemporary artworks? You get three people: Kathy, Kathy, and Demi. Together, Golden Layers is a celebration of tradition embracing the dynamism of contemporary design. Each piece is a labor of love, a testament to the skillful fusion of timeless techniques and modern sensibilities. It is a collective of artistic expression—evident in the creative possibilities that emerge when visionaries unite. It is a collaboration that pushes boundaries, evolves as creatives, layered as gold.

Photos: KATHY & KATHY BESPOKE

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Pushing Boundaries on Golden Layers
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