IntoFlora
28-May-2010
15 July – 26 September 2010
An exhibition of exuberant floral jewellery by eight internationally recognised contemporary jewellers ( including graduates from our School of Jewellery, Lisa Juen and Mikaela Lyons), featuring special pieces created in honour of famous personalities who have inspired them, curated by Kath Libbert.
The exhibition:
A perennial inspiration for great paintings and poems, from Van Gogh’s vibrant sunflowers to Wordsworth’s golden daffodils and Georgia O’Keefe’s suggestive blossoms, flowers are beautiful, sensual, dangerous and pure. As tokens of love and worship, instruments of seduction or gifts of remembrance, flowers play a powerful role in the way we express emotion.
In an exploration of the creative inspiration of all things blooming, Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery at Salts Mill near Bradford is launching IntoFlora, an exhibition of contemporary jewellery on a floral theme featuring eight international jewellery artists.
Kath Libbert, renowned for her imaginative approach to curating contemporary jewellery, has added a playful aspect to IntoFlora, asking each artist to create a special floral tribute to a famous individual who has inspired them, called I’m Into….
Says Kath Libbert, ‘The work of the eight artists I’ve chosen is truly a floral feast for the eyes! And as a bonus their I’m Into… pieces offer a fascinating insight into their processes of inspiration.’
The artists and their Inspiration:
Japanese jewellery maker Masayuki Nagata creates large blossoms from chemically rusted iron, which he then intricately decorates. For this show, he is creating a crysanthemum piece (the national symbol of Japan) in honour of the Marxist revolutionary, Che Guevara. He says, ‘Like Che, I share the desire to change things.’
Natalya Pinchuk, (Russia/USA) makes fantastical jewellery installations from wool, leather, plastic and artificial hair that both compel and disturb. She cites her inspirational person as the American food activist and author of The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan.
Jeweller Ana Hagopian from Barcelona presents Campanula, a delicately beautiful tribute to Cate Blanchett – a myriad of purple paper blossoms, while Mikaela Lyons, (UK) is creating a sumptuously colourful collaged piece in honour of Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine that she says ‘encompasses ideas of womanhood, mother nature and empowerment.’
Selina Campbell, (UK) makes her own homage to interiors guru and fabric designer Tricia Guild, whose own designs feature strong floral elements. Selina incorporates dyed freshwater pearls for a splash of colour into a formalised graphic dahlia design.
Lisa Juen, (Germany/China), chooses as her inspirational person the provocative Canadian rock star Peaches – who’s extreme performances push boundaries in the same way that Lisa Juen’s jewellery does. Lisa makes illuminated flashing neon statement floral jewellery, often using false nails as petals. ‘My fascination with light paired with the imagery of the flower, the symbol of femininity, seduction, sex and strength, found strong support and inspiration in Peaches’ performance.’
Anna Atterling is a Swedish designer who has chosen the director of Cirkus Cirkör, Tilde Björfors. In homage to Tilde, Anna has made a silver crown, which she describes as ‘light, special and sensitive, to match a queen like her.’Says Anna, ‘She is an amazing person. She really makes changes and works with all her heart to make the world a better place.’
Ines Schwotzer’s, (Germany), work is inspired by nature – she uses traditional lace-making techniques to shape steel wire into floral forms and textures that express growing and fading, opening and closing, frailty and tightness. For this project, she has chosen Van Gogh as her inspirational person.
IntoFlora and I’m Into… explore the sensual delights of floral abundance, inviting visitors to take a look into the processes of artistic inspiration and creation. The exhibition will also feature an exclusive Collectors Event in September where a jewellery expert will discuss the symbolic use of the flower in jewellery through the ages and one of the featured jewellers will talk personally about the creative process.
For further information please visit
http://www.kathlibbertjewellery.co.uk
Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery, Salts Mill, Saltaire, Bradford BD18 3LA
Tel/Fax 01274 599790
Open Monday to Friday 10am – 5.30pm. Weekends 10am – 6pm.
Email: info@kathlibbertjewellery.co.uk