A Year in the Making: Jewellery and Design Object Exhibition

 A Year in the Making is an end of year exhibition showcasing the works of the first year students from Melbourne Polytechnic’s Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design course.

The exhibition features jewellery and objects constructed in various materials ranging from sterling silver, opals, embroidery, copper, leather to rose quartz.  The exhibition reveals how contemporary jewellery has developed into an art form by combining both traditional jewellery making techniques with artistic practices.  Each student highlights their skills and creativity through creating jewellery and objects that are both wearable and explores the notion of contemporary jewellery.

While viewing the exhibition, the question arises whether contemporary jewellery is wearable.  Traditionally jewellery has been associated with beauty, status, wealth, and fashion that are designed to fit the body.  The body becomes the canvas for displaying small art works or adornments such as necklace, brooch or earrings.  As noted by Patricia Anderson, “contemporary jewellery is different from other art forms such as sculpture and painting only by its scale and its intended setting is the body”.

An Ode to Angus Fairhurst, work in progress, 2015, copper, plastic chain and powder coat paint, 215 mm x 15mm (Image by artopticon)

Rachael Waith, Melbourne-based jewellery artist and current student, presents a series of contemporary jewellery that references found objects and materials by challenging the traditional means of jewellery making.  Each piece is designed from a sculptural aesthetic, allowing the material  to tell the story.  Waith focuses on shape and texture in her sculptural work titled  An Ode to Angus Fairhurst, depicting a woman’s torso wearing a bold necklace. The re-construction of found objects and recycled materials is a vital element in Waith’s work.  This theme is transcended onto her jewellery pieces as she reinvents objects and sterling silver to create bold works dictated by form and texture.

Teeth Necklace, necklace, 2015, oxidized silver and sterling silver. Titanium Teeth, ornament, 2015, titanium and sterling silver (Image by artopticon).

Each jewellery pieces are placed in a glass case with the bright spotlights to highlight the materials, inviting the viewer to contemplate the art work on a closer inspection. I am drawn towards the Teeth series that is position on the white plinth.  Teeth Necklace is made of sterling silver chain and oxidized silver that are engineered to embody a delicate chain with the inclusion of the carefully sculptured black teeth.  The teeth are shaped in the style of animal teeth such as a lion, adding another dimension to the work by evoking the natural qualities often seen in tribal handcrafted jewellery.

 Foreground: #Veracruz, ring, 2015, sterling silver and amethyst points.  Black Tourmaline Baby, ring, 2015, black tourmaline and sterling silver.   On the black stone:  All Flesh is Grass, two ornaments, 2015, plastic found object, sterling silver (Image by artopticon).

Black Tourmaline Baby and #Veracruz are both bold rings that references natural elements and found objects.  #Veracruz explores unconventional forms and nature by embedding amethyst points onto the head of the sterling silver ring, adding to the illusion that crystals are rising towards the skies.  Similarly, Black Tourmaline Baby is a strong work with the inclusion of the long and black tourmaline stretching towards the skies.  The texture and earthy colours of the ring resonates Waith’s passion of Responsible Mining that calls for a system that respects communities, provides safety to the miners, and minimises harm to the environment.

The bold statements echoed from the jewellery art exhibition explore traditional and unconventional form to re-define materials and objects, and to also create wearable art works.

For further information on the exhibition, please visit: A Year in the Making

Gallery: Melbourne Polytechnic Prahran Campus ,Gallery 101 (MB), St John Street, Prahran, Victoria, Australia

Exhibition Dates: 17th November – 25th November 2015