In a dialogue recorded at Vicenzaoro, visual artist Reena Ahluwalia and Journalist & Publisher of The Diamond Press, Avi Krawitz discuss 'Diamond Trails,' an interdisciplinary visual art project exploring personal journeys, storytelling, and the human spirit through diamonds.
Conceived by Ahluwalia, the anthology pairs original short flash fiction stories by the Diamond Trails Collective—Sonia Esther Soltani, Grant Mobley, Shanoo Bijlani, Avi Krawitz, and Reena Ahluwalia—with original fine art paintings by Ahluwalia that visually interpret each piece.
Marking the second stop on its international tour, the collection made its European debut hosted by the CIBJO Centenary Congress and the Italian Exhibition Group at VicenzaOro (September 2026). Reflecting the multifaceted journey of life, these stories and artworks look beyond price or appearance—exploring the deeper cultural symbolism, resilience, and human emotion embodied by diamonds.
Watch full video here:
Attribution: Recorded on location at Vicenzaoro, September 2026. Video documentation by Avi Krawitz.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: The Diamond Trails Project at Vicenzaoro
00:38 - The Human-Gem Connection and the Diamond Timeline
01:11 - Moving Beyond Commodity: Art, Emotion, and Intellect
02:08 - Flash Fiction Meets Monumental Visual Art
02:41 - Co-Creation: When Literature and Art Collide
03:38 - Diverse Storytelling and Industry Legacy
05:00 - Interdisciplinary Art and Co-Creation
Full Interview Transcript:
Avi Krawitz: So, I'm here with Reena, and this is the first time that two of the contributors to the Diamond Trails project are in the same room together, and it's the first time from my perspective to see my story and Reena's beautiful depiction. And so, Reena, it is such a thrill to see this whole collective in real life. Maybe we can start by telling us what inspired you to initiate this important project.
Reena Ahluwalia: First of all, I'm really excited, and on behalf of the Diamond Trails Collective, we are representing here at VicenzaOro in Italy, and this is the second stop and the European debut of this international exhibit. So what started this idea was that always being entrenched in this diamond field, in jewelry, and in making art, I always questioned: how do we look at diamonds? How do we value diamonds? Diamonds have been here for billions of years, and we are the ones who are in the diamond's timeline, not the other way around. So that human and gem connection was very special, and I always felt that maybe we need to talk about diamonds in a different way. You know, what are the different mediums? Can it be done through art? Can it be done through music or dance? And so this kind of idea came about from there, and that's when I sought out five of the best, most prominent and incredibly talented writers from our industry—and you, Avi, Sonia, Shanoo, and Grant—to come together. I challenged you guys to write a short story... and one other writer being myself! And so I challenged us to write a short story and not to just talk about diamonds as a transactional luxury item, but more emotive, more artistic, more resonant, and more rigorous intellectually as well.
Avi Krawitz: Well, as creatives and as a diamond industry, we're storytellers. And I think that gets lost in the narrative, ironically enough. And I think that's what the real message is here: that there are different ways to tell the story. Everyone has a unique perspective and a unique experience and a unique connection to diamonds, and that needs to be expressed. As you hinted to the concept, when you called me, you explained to me it's a flash fiction concept. So, we have 350 words to write a story about our experience in the diamond industry. And then Reena, as the artist that you are, would depict that in art form, and this is the beautiful result of that. And so I couldn't be more thrilled to be part of it. I know it's a bit of a slow burn in terms of getting the message out and showcasing this project, but I think it's gaining momentum, and I can only hope that people will take from this idea and tell their own stories in their own creative way.
Reena Ahluwalia: And I absolutely agree, and I think that is the whole beauty of this project—that we wanted to not hold this idea for ourselves, but just circulate it around. Like, what are stories without being circulated? And there's a beauty about when literature and art come together. You know, there's something for the soul, there's something for the eye, there's something deeply emotive about it. So I think when these two collide, it's a magical feeling, and that's what this project entails. And also there is another thing: we do want to encourage people to tell their own stories in their own ways, in their own mediums. As we said, the true value of a diamond is really beyond the price and appearance itself. And for a billion-year geological time-capturing piece whose trajectory we collide in, I think we are more stewards than the owners of diamonds. So I think that is one way to tell our story.
Avi Krawitz: What excites me most about it is that it creates some sort of a legacy. I've told my story. It's out there now. And my story of Joe—the central character in my storytelling—draws from a real-life experience that I had at a very remote area of South Africa that's dedicated to diamond mining. It was such an exciting experience for me, and being able to share it with you, with the public now through this storytelling mechanism, is very exciting for me. And I picked that up from Sonia's story, from Shanoo, from Grant, and yours as well—that it just shows us how diverse an industry we are, how diverse the potential for diamond storytelling is. And that's why I think it's just such a unique, awesome project. So I want to thank you for taking the initiative.
Reena Ahluwalia: And thank you so much. What you said really resonates very deeply, and I'm very honored that we all joined and came together. And it's a kind of a wisdom pool, I would say, and we have our little stories and our legacies to leave. And this is what we're doing through our literature, our art, and I really hope that it inspires people and it is something that they carry forward—remembering that diamonds are really truly exceptional because of the way they interact with our lives. Life does not have one experience; we have multiple experiences, and that is the diamond trail.
Avi Krawitz: Reena, just to close, where can people find this project? Where can they read and learn more about this creative...?
Reena Ahluwalia: So, I would really encourage everybody to go to www.diamond-trails.com and read all the stories. Because I think once you read the stories, you understand art, and when you look at art, you understand the stories. And I think together it has created something very unique. And I would say this is one of the first times in the industry, and not that I know of before, that something like this—like an interdisciplinary collaboration—has happened in such a beautiful way. And I think we need to do that; we need to co-create more and express ourselves freely.
Avi Krawitz: Yeah, and if you get the chance to see it in person—and I hope that we'll be on some sort of a global tour at some point—certainly take the opportunity. Thanks very much everyone, and reach out to me, to Reena, on our socials for more information as well.
About Avi Krawitz
Avi Krawitz is a seasoned journalist with nearly 20 years of experience covering the global diamond and jewelry market. Recognized as a leading industry voice, he provides in-depth analysis and commentary that reaches a global audience. Avi has authored numerous reports and articles, and regularly hosts podcasts and webinars, helping to shape the conversation and bring the diamond story to a wider, more diverse audience. https://www.thediamondpress.com/
