Eneko Unzalu, bitxigilea/ jeweler

Eneko Unzalu (picture from Masustak Eguzkitan).

Bloga idazten hasi nintzenetik gauza ederrak baino ez zaizkit pasatu eta pertsona zintzo eta zoragarriak baino ez ditut ezagutu. Eneko Unzaluren bitxiak beti izan ditut gogoko, kuadrilako lagun baten senidea denez, orain dela askotik ezagutzen ditut bere bitxiak. Blog honetan, nire sormen ariketak erakutsi eta nire inguruan dauden pertsona interesgarrien lanak erakusteko erabili nahi nuen, eta Eneko nire zerrendako lehen postuetan zegoen.

Since I started writing this blog nothing but nice things have happen to me and I have met nothing but wonderful people. I have always liked Eneko Unzalu's jewels, and as he is a friend's relative I have known his work for a long time. In this blog, I wanted to show you my own creations and also those of people around me, and Eneko's ones are among the first of my list.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Artisau baten lantokira sartzeak beti sortzen du irrika eta errespetu puntutxo bat, baina ezagutzen nautenek dakiten bezalaxe, zerbait egin behar bada Maider beti prest! Azken finean, artisauen lantegiek ordu askoko lan nekezaren ispilu baitira, beraien sormen, akats eta lorpenen arima. Enekoren lantegiak gauza guzti horien eta beste hainbaten usaia dauka, bere bidaien aztarna, harri eder eta koloretsuak, argizarizko modeloak eta maitasun handiarekin eginiko lanaren deiadarra.

To enter in the workshop of a craftsman is always exciting but also respectful, but whoever knows me can tell that if something must be done, Maider goes ahead! In fact, a craftsman’s workshops reflects the long working hours, creations, successes and failures. Eneko's workshop has the scent of all of this and more, his travel tracks, beautiful and colourful stones, wax models and the reflection of a job done with love.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Enekorekin berba egitea oso erraza da, irribarrea aurpegian, bere bizitzaren inguruko pintzelada batzuk kontatzeko prest dago, jakin dakien arren, bere pribatutasuna pittin bat urratuko dudala. Bitxigintzan lan egitea, kasualidadea baino ez dela izan dio, orain dela 10 urte Mexikora egin zuen bidaia batean, bertako artisauak ezagutu eta lanbideak erakarri zuela. Oraindik ere, munduko bi alde hauetan dagoen desberdintasuna gogoratzen du: "Mexikon artisauek kalean egiten dute lan, lasaitasun eta askatasun osoz, hemen permisoak eta permisoak eskatu behar dira edozertarako".

It's really easy to talk to Eneko, big smile on his face, he is ready to give some tips of his life even though he knows I will scratch his privacy a little bit. He says that he ended up working with jewels by chance, when 10 years ago in a trip to Mexico, he met the local craftsmen and their work. Even now, he still remembers the differences between us and them:”In Mexico craftworkers can work in the streets with no worries, quiet and with freedom. Here is all about licenses for everything.”

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Forestal ikasi eta bitxigile amaitu du Enekok, baina burua betidanik basoan izan duen gizon honek, bere bitxietan irudikatzen du naturari dion maitasuna. Testuretan edo naturako egituretan izaten du abiapuntua. Zerbait gustoko duenean, bere tailerrera ideia horrekin abiatu eta materialarekin hasten da lanean. Hau da bere lanaren hasiera, testura egokia sortu. Ez du marrazkirik egiten eta formaren lanketa honek helmuga desberdinetara eramateko gaitasuna dauka, ideia batekin hasi eta beharbada beste ideia batekin amaitu.

He studied forestry and endedp up being a jeweler, but his mind has always been in the forest, he reflects his love nature in his pieces. His staring pint is usually natural textures or shapes. When he likes something, he goes to his workshop and starts working with the material. That's how he begins, giving the material the a proper texture. He doesn't make sketches and working with shapes can take him to different endings, he can start with an idea and end up with something else.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Bere bitxiek zilarra eta harriak daramatzate, hala ere urrea ere erabiltzen du enkarguzko piezetarako. Goiko argazkian Enekok egindako eraztuna daukazue, bitxi hau nirea da, ederra ezta? Testura izugarria dauka. Eraztun honen forma ere harrigarria da. Guztiz borobila izan beharrean laukirantza doa eta egia esan bere logika dauka, zuen atzamarrak begiratu, ze forma daukate?

His pieces are made of silver and stones, however he also works with gold in customised orders. Above photo shows a ring made by Eneko. It's mine, isn't it nice?It has a wonderful texture and an amazing shape. Instead of being completely rounded, it tends to a square shape. Actually, it's quite logic. Have a look to your fingers, what's their shape?

Artisauek beti izaten dituzte pieza kuttunak, beraiekin eramaten dituztenak, pazientzia handiko piezak oso gertukoak sentitzen dituztenak. Enekoren pieza kuttuna, zilarrezko mahatsondo izugarri hau da. Paparreko bat da eta detaile guztiak sentitzeko ikutu eta gertutik mirestea beharrezko da. Bitxi honek bizitza dauka, bihotza eta zainak, taupadaz beteriko artelana.

Craftsmen have always had beloved pieces, they wear them, pieces full of patience that feel very close. Eneko's beloved piece is this amazing silvered grapevine. It's a brooch that needs to be looked closed up to admire all its details. This jewel is alive, it has a heart and veins, an artwork full of beats.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Nik ere badut bitxigile honen pieza kuttun bat. Paparrekoak asko maite ditut eta bitxi hau orain dela urte batzuk nire mutilagunak oparitu zidan. Enekok enkarguz egin zuen paparreko hau, nire mutilagunak aukeratu zuen harria. Harri honen izena Opaloa da, bere barnean ozeanoa dagoelakoan nago, zirraragarria da.

I also have a beloved piece from this jeweler. I love brooches and this one was a gift from my boyfriend a few years ago. It was a made to order piece, and the stone was chosen by my boyfriend. Its named Opal, and I feel that the ocean is kept inside, it's fascinating.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Lolo txakurrak ez digu batere kasurik egin berbatan genbiltzan artean, seguru gure berbaroa aspergarria iruditu zaiola...hori bai, argazkia ateratzeko deitu diodanean geldi geldi geratu da, niri begira lurrean poz pozik botata.

Lolo the dog does not pay attention to us while we are talking, our words must me boring... but when I call him for the picture, he comes right away and stays quietly, looking at me happily.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Eneko eta Lolo uzteko ordua heldu da, ogibide honek tentu eta pazientzia handiko lana eskatzen du eta ni bezalako kuxkuxera batek kajoi guztietan ezkutatuta dauden bitxi eta harriak ikusteko prest dagoen arren, bada garaia tailerrak bere martxa hartu eta bitxiek bere eskuetan bizia hartu dezaten.

It's time to leave Eneko and Lolo, this job asks for tenacity and patience, and even though someone so gossipy like me is always ready to open every drawer and discover jewels and stones, it's time that the workshops takes back its rhythm and the jewels get back to life.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Eskerrikasko Eneko zure lantegiko ateak zabaldu izateagatik! Ondo izan eta hurrengorarte!!!

Thank you Eneko for opening the doors of your factory! See you soon!

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Picture from Masustak Eguzkitan.

Informazio gehiago/ More information:
http://www.enekounzalu.com/

Eneko Unzalu

Telf.: 653 712 498

E-mail: enekounzalu@yahoo.es