Artist Sarana Haeata on the World of Xanthe Zodiac

To celebrate the launch of XANTHE Zodiac; a celestial collection of pendants inspired by the astrology of the stars and the wisdom of the ocean, SARAH & SEBASTIAN has collaborated with Australian artist Sarana Haeata on a series of twelve original artworks. Based in Margaret River on the southwest coast of Australia, Haeata is known for her abstract figurative paintings exploring femininity, movement, motherhood, and shared human experience. Created in response to the sea creatures that symbolise each zodiac sign within the collection, the works bring an emotional and deeply intuitive layer to the storytelling behind XANTHE Zodiac.

We visited Haeata at her studio, nestled amongst the lush countryside of Margaret River and shared alongside the workshop of her partner Tom Lee’s practice, Biscay Studio. Surrounded by nature, the space reflects the elemental energy present throughout her work. “In all of my paintings, there is a really strong sense of movement,” says Haeata. “The reason for this fluidity is a Māori term called the wairua. I love this idea of surrendering to this current, this force of life that we have.” This sense of surrender, motion, and calm became central to the visual language of the collaboration.

"THE REASON FOR THIS FLUIDITY IS A MĀORI TERM CALLED THE WAIRUA. I LOVE THIS IDEA OF SURRENDERING TO THIS CURRENT, THIS FORCE OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE.”

For each zodiac sign, Haeata created an original painting inspired by its corresponding sea creature using layered brushwork alongside 24-carat yellow gold and 12-carat white gold leaf. “Creating these creatures in this beautiful gold foil — I’m finding these ways to really give reverence to these sea creatures and how they relate to the descriptions that we know of our star signs,” she explains. Each artwork appears as a tarot-sized collectible card accompanying its corresponding pendant, featuring an original zodiac reading on the reverse designed to deepen the ritual and symbolism of the piece.

Alongside the collaboration, Haeata and Lee have also created a series of precision-engineered aluminium frames designed to house the original artworks. Designed and fabricated by Biscay Studio, the sculptural frames draw on brutalist forms and object design, transforming each work into a collectible piece for the home. “These are much more like an art sculpture in their own right,” says Haeata. “How a person interacts with that in a really intimate way in their home, I think that’s a really beautiful aspect to it.” The original artworks are now on display in select SARAH & SEBASTIAN boutiques and available to purchase online, with profits from the sale of the artworks supporting our Xanthe Project partners and the protection of fragile marine ecosystems.

“HOW A PERSON INTERACTS WITH THAT IN A REALLY INTIMATE WAY IN THEIR HOME, I THINK THAT’S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL ASPECT TO IT”.

Discover the Xanthe Zodiac Collection or shop the original artworks.