Close Window

Nenny Surono

Nenny Surono was born in 1972 in the island of Papua, Indonesia, where she spent most of her childhood. The natural surroundings influenced her admiration for the environment, an interest she skillfully transfers into her art. Nenny's artistic abilities caught her parents' attention when she was a small girl, and they always enrolled her in one form of art class or another, such as traditional dances and painting. She was sent to school to Java to continue her higher education, and Nenny also pursued her artistic formation with further art classes.

Unable to gain admittance at Java's Art College, Nenny was encouraged by her parents to enter Law School, which she did somewhat reluctantly. After graduating, she went to Switzerland to study a post-graduate degree in management. Europe reawakened her interest in the arts. She couldn't get enough of the way art was manifest throughout Europe, whether at renowned museums, street art fairs or even fashions shows.

Nenny finished her post-graduate course and moved to the United States to continue with her training program. She traveled throughout the U.S., and she was constantly aware of how people dressed and accessorized. "I liked to observe what people wore, what they did with their hair, what they wore around their neck, and such," recalls Nenny. "Sometimes I would get frustrated with the bad quality of jewelry, and it made me think how back home, I could have lots of things to mix and match, and the thought would make me anxious. My sketchbooks were full of my jewelry designs and eventually, I heeded Nature's call to go back home."

Nenny returned to Papua by the end of 2001, and eventually moved to Bali for a while, to continue her pursuit of art. In 2003, she returned to Yogyakarta, where she now has a studio workshop. Nenny uses materials from all around Indonesia, and demand for her collections has grown to the point that she can now offer jobs to other people. "This is it. This is what I do for a living now!" says Nenny with pride. "This place, the people and the surroundings are great. I couldn't ever ask for more." Though Nenny is becoming a recognized and established designer, she dreams of one day returning to Europe and attend a specialized jewelry school.