universal ring

In Bali, artisan-jeweler Buana crafts this stunning World Peace Project design featuring gentle doves handcrafted from bone. "The dove is a bird of love, with a gentle face symbolizing world peace. I've carefully decorated this unique dove with flowers in the shape of a heart, symbolizing love for all the universe and a call for universal peace. By creating this message in the form of a bracelet, I’m offering a constant reminder to the wearer to maintain thoughts of peace, and to remember to imitate the dove’s character.

"If a community is able to create peace in terms of living conditions, and in terms of embracing the existence of others in general, the population in each village will be happy to carry out activities in each of their diverse fields, including the farmers who are happy to go to the fields, office employees or civil servants, and so on and on, with the spirit of carrying out duties and responsibilities well for the harmony of all. So that macro-economy and technology will continue to develop positively, and human resources can still be relied upon for world development. If these aspects develop well, then the creation of harmonious relationships with our fellow human beings, and also with the universe, is possible."

This sterling silver bracelet features faceted blue topaz and citrine stones in a dazzling design symbolizing peace.

Bringing enlightenment and wisdom, the Buddha represents a religion of self-denial, universal brotherhood and peace. Balinese artist Made Mulyani hand carves a peaceful depiction of Buddha's face from local suar wood, also known as raintree wood. The wood panel features intricately carved beaded headpiece details and a complex floral border design.

"I convey peace with beautiful crystals that reflect the sunlight and illuminate our hearts and souls. Let's look for peace, which is what gives meaning to our lives. Let's be light, not darkness," says Alejandra Paiz, who crafts this one-of-a-kind beaded suncatcher depicting the universal symbol of peace — a dove holding an olive branch.

"This suncatcher represents hope and the desire for a new and peaceful beginning on Earth, made of components associated with purity and spirituality.

"I say a prayer for peace," the Guatemalan artisan continues. "And I ask that we pray it together. 'No more wars. We want peace. May this peace dove reach all the homes of the world.'

"The principles of peace are love, justice and truth. Nothing is more valuable than peace, and it's the basic starting point for humanity to progress. Here I share sensations of peace with the beautiful crystals that reflect the sun's light to illuminate the heart and soul."

The artisan handcrafts this stunning suncatcher from crystal, glass and pewter beads, stainless steel ring and wire, nickel chains and a zinc dove pendant.

The artist explains that this peace painting is inspired by the notion of Krishna as the god of compassion, tenderness and love, who teaches about life, love, happiness, dharma, liberation, devotion, yoga, meditation and truth.

The kadamba tree is inextricably linked to the Hindu god Krishna's iconography, exquisitely depicted in this folk painting by Indian artist Bharti Dayal.

This stunning work of art is created in classic Madhubani style by applying acrylic paint and vegetable dyes on handmade paper. "Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace -- the quest of all beings," the artist adds.

Marveling at a garden of flowers and peacocks, Hindu Goddess Radha and Supreme God Krishna leave a trail of love and compassion emblematic of their eternal bond. Inseparable since their love began, Radha and Kirshna exist within each other, making their existence mutually inclusive. Their pure consciousness in the garden scene demonstrates their inner peace, symbolized by each flower, swirl and bird. Krishna's leftward-facing peacock feather crown alludes to the presence of two peacocks who mirror their respective deities, with one looking right and the other left. Each vine of the garden spirals into its own unique shape, providing foliage and a home for colorful flowers and little birds. Kirshna becomes one with this garden, mingling with the spiral vines, seemingly floating across the scene. Bharti Dayal paints 'Eternal Love of Radha Krishna' in a two-dimensional contemporary style to concentrate on narrating one of Hinduism's greatest love stories for a modern audience.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace; the quest of all beings," Dayal says.

"Madhubani paintings are in fact a simplistic manifestation of the philosophical heights achieved by Indian civilization for the universal power of love, longing and peace – the quest of all beings," the artist explains, adding, “To achieve a state of inner peace is an inspiration for all. Through meditation, Lord Buddha attained inner peace, which inspired him to work for world peace. The end of greed, hatred and delusion is the state of Nirvana, which describes the Buddhist path and spiritual goal to mark the soteriological release from rebirth in the world.”

In this World Peace Project painting by Bharti, within a gray realm of absence, Buddha is depicted as a meditating silhouette adorned with a sacred lotus flower and turquoise. The lack of interruptions in the background highlights the sole importance of one's self in achieving nirvana, because worldly objects cloud the mind.

Bharti Dayal created this painting to celebrate the path of Nirvana in the quest for peace.

Bali's Aricadia creates a fascinating composition full of symbolism. He depicts a tall, muscular man surrounded by white doves removing bullets and land mines from a war zone. "In this world, we don't need any weapons to achieve a feeling of peace. We only need love and compassion," the artist reflects.

“The doves symbolize world peace, and the bullets are the remnants of war that pollute the world. The symbol of peace is the hope of all people. Strength must be balanced with a peaceful heart. Doves in the sky bring peace, clean the soiled land by removing bullets and mines left over from war, so that there will be no war – only peace on earth."Peace is love and mutual giving. starting from ourselves to our neighbors, our environment, animals, plants, and the universe. The best leaders think about the people of the world, not their own ego. Because life is a gift from God, live the day and live it with love."

Balinese artisan Aricadia paints an intriguing portrait of an expectant mother surrounded by gentle white doves, a symbol of peace. "Blue represents the sky and yellow is the grain of wheat that grows in the ground. All move as desired, without pollution and war. All went as desired without pollution and war. Just like the doves that welcome him where all babies will be born with cries of happiness, not sadness.

"A mother always does and spreads kindness for her baby so that she can give goodness and peace to the world. Good luck to all nations. In this world, we do not need weapons to achieve a feeling of peace, we only need love and compassion. Peace is love and mutual giving.

"Starting from ourselves to our neighbors, our environment, animals, plants, and the universe — the best leaders think about the people of the world, not their own ego. Because life is a gift from God, so live the day and live it with love."

Give peace a chance with this breathtaking suar wood sculpture by Balinese artisan Nyoman Sudiana. "To achieve peace, there are several things that must be created, namely the availability of basic human needs which consist of clothing, food, and shelter. In the world, there is also a harmonious relationship that must be preserved starting from ourselves, namely humans with God, humans with fellow creatures created by God, and humans with the universe's environment. If it has been created in us, we will feel that peace, and our lives will feel more comfortable and peaceful," says the artist.

In this statue, each of these pillars of peace has the following meaning:

• The doves are a symbol of purity and hope, tenderness of devotion. Doves are also associated with the third chakra, which is connected to purpose, creativity, self-expression, and ego.
• The globe is a symbol of the earth itself where we as God's creatures are the inhabitants of the world.3. The two hands symbolize human efforts to care for and maintain a strong life hand in hand to create peace for all mankind and the rest of nature.
• The two pillars symbolize justice and prosperity in which every human being must be able to meet the needs of clothing, food, and shelter for a comfortable life in the world.
• The nuclear disarmament motif symbolizes the Anti-War Movement design by Gerald Holtom on February 21, 1958. This symbol is a combination of semaphore signals for the letters N and D which stand for nuclear disarmament.
• Two open fingers symbolize victory in the struggle.

"My definition of world peace is the desire of every human being who decides and chooses to be at peace in their own way. If humans realize we can all choose to make peace by asking God to give us a heart that is peaceful and calm, then there will be no war. My hope for world peace is that all beings can individually create something good and respect each other, and then peace will be established," says Ida Ratna Ningrum.

The artist advocates for harmony and goodwill with her daydream-like painting "Pray for Peace." With idyllic realism, Ida creates a desert landscape symbolic of societal conflicts and scarcity, dominated by a prayerful young woman in a pink dress.

The artist explains that the cat and white rabbit symbolize rebirth and new beginnings, respectively, as they accompany the girl in her quest for peace. Circling above, white doves soar freely, symbolizing the release of a new period of peace under a pure blue sky. Thriving around the young woman, cacti, prickly pears and aloe represent the protection provided by mother nature, even in times of friction. An encouraging reminder of human resilience, the painting calls for a new peaceful era on planet Earth.

"Peace is the desire of every human being around the world," says the artist. "Prayer is a method of expression from a person to God and the universe. A sad girl sees a beautiful world without any feelings of peace, as if there is always war. She prays to God that the world will always be at peace without any war. If the world is free from war, the world will be peaceful, serene, and prosperous."