TRANSPARENT DRAGONFLY BY ILGIZ FAZULZYANOV
In the heart of Lustrous Valley, a dragonfly named Lumina shimmered unlike any other. Legend said that she was a gift from the stars. Her wings, crafted from transparent white topazes, sparkled in the sunlight. Her turquoise body, dotted with diamonds, gleamed with every graceful twist and turn. People would pause to admire her, as her flight painted fleeting tales of magic in the air.
Sometimes you finish a piece, look at it, and understand: there is beauty, but it does not make your heart flutter. I won't be happy with this kind of work.
Ilgiz Fazulzyanov in an interview with Vogue
What makes your heart flutter?
Anticipation, like a slow-building crescendo? Тhe tickling hope of good news, combined with fear of the unknown? The cocktail of emotions that keeps you on the edge of your seat?
The electrifying moment of excitement? The adrenaline rush, quickened heartbeat and wide-eyed seconds before diving into a new adventure?
The burst of sunshine in your heart, when you hold your newborn child in your arms? The sweet smell of an apple pie that takes you back to your grandmother's kitchen?
The goosebumps of musical euphoria? An artistic inspiration that stirs your soul?
The transparent Dragonfly Brooch by Ilgiz Fazulzyanov – for sure.
Deep in the sun searched growths, the dragonfly hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Dragonflies – Ilgiz’s inspiration for this dainty, Art Nouveau masterpiece – are unique creatures.
Their two compound eyes afford almost 360° visual coverage, along with the ability to perceive a broader range of colors than humans. Each of these eyes is made up of 28,000 individual units, and to manage this vast visual data, a dragonfly dedicates as much as 80 percent of its brain power.
Their unique ability to manoeuvre each of their four wings separately enables them to elevate or descend each wing and swivel them on an axis, both forwards and backwards, allowing them to ascend or descend vertically, reverse in flight, hover in place, and make swift directional changes. A dragonfly can propel itself forward at impressive speeds, reaching up to 30 miles per hour.
Time is for dragonflies and angels. The former live too little and the latter live too long.
James Thurber, The 13 Clocks
Dragonflies were soaring through our skies long before the era of the dinosaurs. Their enormous ancestors, known as Griffenflies, boasted wingspans exceeding two feet. These magnificent creatures dominated the Earth's airspace over 300 million years ago.
But you can enjoy this marvellous Dragonfly Brooch by Ilgiz Fazulzyanov right now – and for many years into the future.
Wonderful portrait by Jacqueline Ostermann.
