Aviaaja

My name is Aviaaja Kleist Burkal.

I was born in Denmark in 1982, but in 1983 my parents and I moved to Greenland, where my mother comes from. I grew up in Greenland with both the Greenlandic and Danish culture, as I am from a bicultural family.

The two cultures have influenced me in different ways, which also comes to show in my jewelry – sometimes more obvious than others. One thing, that plays an important part for me, is the Greenlandic storytelling tradition; I am interested in the story behind the motives and materials I use, and I find pleasure in being able to pass on the story, which gives the jewelry its own character and meaning.

When you grow up with the fascinating and grandiose Greenlandic nature, it is inevitable that it becomes a part of your consciousness. Therefore I seek inspiration in the nature, which likewise in Greenland contain many beautiful gemstones, as well as within the traditional Greenlandic handcraft.

I enjoy combining these sources of inspiration with the characteristic clean and elegant scandinavian style. This way, I create my own expression with the harmonies and contrasts it may include.