Jewellery That Uses Memory To Communicate
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Our memories are the most valuable things we own. Without them, we can't learn, we can't function, and we lose all sense of our identity. If you have lost a loved one to dementia, you will have seen the erosion of their memory and how it affected everything about them.
Jewellery and memory have always had a powerful connection. Whether it is a wedding ring or piece of jewellery you have inherited, jewellery carries intimate secrets. While some people think of jewellery as an accessory, for me it is so much more. It has the ability to make connections through the generations and express complex ideas.
One of the ideas I have explored through my jewellery is how to demonstrate that metal has a memory.
If you have ever learned to make jewellery, you will know it is a very critical and unforgiving medium to work in. If you don’t plan carefully and don’t carry out the plan correctly, there is no way to fix it. Unlike working with acrylic paints where you can paint over and over to experiment to get the perfect result, metal holds the memory of the things done to it.
I really like this about working with precious metal. I can even look at a ring that has been worn and see its story of how it has been treated, just by the amount of marks, how deep they are and how frequent. It’s like having a secret language with an object that can’t speak.
I decided to explore this idea of how metal holds memories of what has happened to it.
This cuff was folded to create creases in the metal and then unfolded. The unique form is created because the metal keeps a record of what it has experienced.
The challenge with this piece was to create the folds and then shape the cuff without removing too much of the undulation, while still creating the correct shape to fit the wrist. The effects of how the light bounces off of the surface is really stunning.
The bending and polishing of this piece makes the metal harder and so it can retain the look of soft cloth while staying rigid in this shape.
Exploring new ways to express complex ideas through jewellery is at the heart of what I create. If you would like to commission me to design a unique piece of jewellery that records a special moment, please get in touch to discuss your idea.
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