Taras Yoom and Aureta Thomollari present a wearable art interpretation of backgammon
The collaboration between artist Taras Yoom and entrepreneur–collector Aureta Thomollari introduces a limited-edition piece. The creation positions the classic backgammon set within the realm of wearable design.
Presented as Another Kingdom: Game of Light, the creation evolves from Yoom’s collectible line into a clutch defined by meticulous materiality and an elevated sense of presence. Debuted at Art Miami 2025 at the Yoomoota Booth AM209, it reflects a shared visual language shaped through color, craft, and narrative intention.
The edition consists of 21 handcrafted sets housed in leather-and-alcantara clutches fitted with a paracord shoulder strap. Crystals with silver, brass, and glass elements contribute to a luminous character that shifts as the piece moves through its environment.
The internal backgammon set extends this dialogue of materials, combining silver, brass, wood, steel, glass, and acrylic. Each checker incorporates a lab-grown ruby placed beneath a glass lens, engineered to refract incoming light and create changing chromatic patterns.
The making process draws from jewelry-grade standards. Precision 3D printing with photopolymer plastic works in concert with casting, manual finishing, inlaying, wrapping in leather and fabric, paracord weaving, and acrylic detailing.
Every set carries an embedded NFC chip that functions as a digital certificate, establishing verifiable ownership and tracing provenance across time. The concept connects closely to the nature of backgammon. The game centers on rapid decisions, calculated movement, and a constant push toward the finish.
Taras Yoom interprets this tempo metaphorically by engaging with light — the fastest known phenomenon. Through materials that react to illumination, the piece suggests a sense of momentum accessible to its wearer, as if the game’s tempo extends into the physical world.
Taras Yoom notes that light enables color to achieve full expression, and that this collaboration channels the palette he and Aureta intuitively understand. He explains that the work holds layers of intention, functioning as both an artifact of craftsmanship and an accessory shaped for high-fashion contexts, while also carrying a philosophy tied to clarity and resonance.
Thomollari reflects on the emotional dimension of translating a familiar game into an accessory. She describes the project as an opportunity to transform a long-held memory into an object that continues to evolve through material and artistic decisions. She highlights the creative momentum shared with Yoom, grounded in color and imaginative energy.
Together, the duo presents a piece that positions backgammon within contemporary fashion while maintaining the game’s symbolic qualities, offering an object that operates as art, accessory, and personal statement.
All images credit: Taras Yoom and Aureta
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