Signature work
An indicolite tourmaline, a ring designed in Canberra, two handwritten letters from the family of Jørn Utzon, and a request from one of the great museums of the world.
The stone
While sifting through cabochon tourmalines at a gem market, Eytan and Nurit came across this stunning, uniquely cut indicolite tourmaline. The moment they held it, they looked at each other, and without a word they knew they were both thinking of the Sydney Opera House. They designed the ring together: the tourmaline held in bold 18 karat yellow gold and set to show from every angle, its height and shape so closely resembling the Opera House sails. Photographed standing on its own reflection, the ring mirrors the building in the water around it. It was bought by a young Canberra couple, but the image stayed with the studio and became its signature.
The letters
Eytan suggested the ring be dedicated to Jørn Utzon, the Danish architect of the Opera House. They sent him the magazine in which the ring first appeared, with a letter thanking him for the inspiration his building had given them.
2006
Eytan wrote to Jørn Utzon and his family, sending the magazine and dedicating the ring to him.
"As an immigrant who has been living in Australia, I always felt that the greatness of your creativity was never adequately praised. I therefore felt the need to thank you myself for the design of your masterpiece, which, I am sure, has and will inspire many other individuals. Thus, I dedicated my piece to you."
Eytan Aharoni, 24 October 2006
2006
A reply came, handwritten, from Jørn Utzon’s granddaughter.
"Thank you so much for your letter and the magazine. I will send the page, along with your letter, to my grandfather so that he can know how you were touched by his work. It must be the greatest gift of any artist to know that your work inspired other artists."
Kirsten Utzon-Popov, 27 October 2006
2008
When Jørn Utzon passed away in November 2008, they wrote again, to his family, with their sympathies and this poem.
"And even if things were not,
and reality and dream did not touch,
if destiny thus desired,
let us find comfort in a gaze from above.Even parallel lines that have not met,
in a temporary world,
meet nevertheless, out there,
in the infinity."
Professor Herzl Aharoni
2009
A second handwritten reply came, this time from Jørn Utzon’s son.
"Thank you so much for your very kind letter at my father's passing. It was a sad, but natural end to a long and exciting life, and we feel privileged to have been part of it. Warm regards and much success with your beautiful work."
Jan Utzon, 12 July 2009
The V&A
The Victoria and Albert Museum, one of the largest and most respected art and design museums in the world, contacted Eytan and Nurit to ask permission to use an image of the Opera House Ring in an education programme for students of architecture and design, as an example of how great architecture has inspired designers across the globe.
As an article in Capital Magazine put it, this is not just a story about Utzon, the Opera House and the ring it inspired. “It is also a story about the importance of institutions like the V&A in the world. Places that preserve our cultural inheritance, and inspire future generations.”
"We are excited to be part of the Sydney Opera House, if only in a tiny way. Everywhere we have gone, whenever people think of Australia, the Opera House comes quickly to mind."Eytan Aharoni
In print
