Being a third-generation jeweler, Ivan Co always possessed the craftsman's mindset.

"I was exposed to the jewelry industry at a young age and handled designs and operations within our family jewelry business. My desire to create bolder and more expressive creations has eventually led me to shift to art," he expressed.

With a Multimedia Arts degree from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, he set off to establish a career as a designer at Hoseki Jewelry Art. His winning design at the International Jewelry Design Competition, organized by the much-lauded South Sea Pearl Consortium, led to a full scholarship at the prestigious Gemological Institute of America Hong Kong.

In 2014, he started his very own Ornamento Jewellery, crafting statement pieces that later on led to a bigger platform for creative expression.

"During a turbulent time in my life, I accepted an offer to find refuge in a temple. This is where I was first exposed to the discipline of meditation. I underwent a process that I would like to call 'self-reconciliation,' where I was able to flip a switch in my mind to turn all my negative experiences into positive narratives towards my destiny," Co opened up.

This year of isolation and reflection catalyzed his decision to finally and fully embrace his artistic nature
— to transcend the limits of fine arts through sculpture-making.