The art of Francisco Javier Velázquez Gómez certainly is no less as decorative as his name. Just as impressive as his art, is his story: A true story of talent and discovery. Just like the mysterious and dormant beauty of the tiny still lifes, hidden from light and encapsulated for millions of years in the amber gemstones he transforms into his jewellery today, Javier Velazquez's own hidden talent needed a time, a setting and an observant discoverer to be unearthed.

Marveling at his intricate creations, each and every single one quite a testimony of his impressive craftsmanship, one wouldn't believe Javier has only been practicing his craft since as little as four years. Like the story of so many of the local children, deprived of an opportunity to go to school and pursue a dignified path of their own, Javier's story starts on the streets of San Cristobal de las Casas, selling merchandize to the tourists together with his brother. In his late twenties Javier discovers the art of filigree-jewellery-making through videos on Youtube. With the support of the INAES (Instituto Nacional de la Economia Social) Javier receives the opportunity to take a 3-month-course with a Mexican jewellery master. As his talent is discovered, the same institution supports him with the initial funds to aquire a set of machines and raw materials. The rest is history one could say.

By now, 34-year-old Javier is a true master of crafts and almost entirely autodidactic, outstanding prodigy in the intricate art of "filigrana" (filigree) jewellery. Using precious jade and amber gemstones adorned with the most delicate silver-thread decorations, he walks us through an exemplary day-in-a-life in his "Balambar" jewellery workshop in the outskirts of San Cristobal de las Casas, in Chiapas, Mexico. We follow him along as he picks the amber, melts tiny silver beads and takes hours and hours of manual labour that only grows in impressive delicacy, transforming a cast lump of precious metal into the finest, hand-twisted, silver-threaded adornments used in his filigree works. In fact, it takes 400-500 hours of manual work to finish one of his pieces, he explains.

I was deeply impressed by Javier's leading example of what happens, when talent is given a chance to unfold and dedication and passion grow into a body of artistic work like his. By now Javier even trains younger apprentices all the way from Europe in the skills of filigree jewellery making.