Mina Saneei | Vatan

Artist: Mina Saneei, Canada
Materials: silver, enamel
Size: 5 1/2 - 6

Artist Statement: I have immigrated 5 years ago and although it seems not so long for many, it is becoming intolerable for me to be away from my friends and family. Since September 2022, with the ongoing revolution in my home country, Iran, I felt an enormous longing for my homeland and my compatriots. I have created this ring in shape of Iran map and have architectural pattern design in enamel to remind me of my people and soothe the ache a little bit.

Artist Bio: Mina is an emerging jewelry designer and goldsmith based in Vancouver. She studied architecture in university in Iran but then realized that she needs to work with her hands more, so she took some classes to get to know different mediums. She started by taking classes that covered basic carpentry and welding and molding, then leather sewing, in which she established her own brand and won award, then she got the introduction to lapidary and silversmithing and realized that is what she was looking for. In 2018 she moved to Canada to study Jewelry Arts in George Brown College and graduated in August of 2021. She is currently exploring different techniques and looking to establish her own unique style of jewelry.

This ring was part of Battle of the Rings: Ring Smackdown 2023, an online exhibition and competition. View the entire collection HERE, view the matches HERE, and learn more HERE.