Flux
Nine New Graduates Energize the Jewellery World
12th Sept - 10th Nov 2019
Invitation to the exhibition
Hot off the soldering block our annual selling exhibition of outstanding new jewellery talent selected from across the UK. Interactive, dynamic, charged, let yourself be moved!
For over twenty years Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery at Salts Mill has cherry picked the outstanding talents from all the jewellery courses in the country to make a fresh and exciting exhibition and this year’s is no exception – connect with the current!
Jordan Furze, School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University.
What the Flux!! Reflecting on ‘the frothing anger and chaos of Brexit which exists alongside the boredom and disconnect people have about it’ Furze’s work is thoughtful and provocative. His Plug Socket Brooches symbolise badges of allegiance and are emblazoned with sensationalised newspaper headlines – and his 100 engraved painted Face Rings chronicle a train of thought and reflection about Brexit - laid out on a table they become a flurry of dissenting faces and words.
Ruhong Chen, Edinburgh College of Art.
‘The Only Permanence is Impermanence.’ Inspired by this Buddhist philosophy Ruhong Chen’s jewellery pieces go through a transformative process, physically and conceptually when interacting with the wearer. She builds in fragility through the use of transient materials such as talc, soil, and charcoal. Hidden preciousness is eventually revealed through the act of wearing. The pearls and gold revealed as the necklaces and brooches ‘wear out’ symbolise the state of serenity achieved through acceptance of our own impermanent state.
Dong Ding, Edinburgh College of Art.
Exploring the tension between balance and imbalance, Dong Ding’s kinetic masterpieces transform from ingenious sculptures into wearable works of art. Through playful interaction with his jewellery sculptures, a wearer can change the state of balance and create surprising, exciting, hypnotic movement on and off the body.
Tianyu Zhao, Edinburgh College of Art.
Growth and continuous change – Tianyu’s work explores the traces of childhood memory, creating amulets for adulthood. Bold pastel earrings with intricately embroidered happy childhood memories help protect and give courage to face the adult world. ’I am 24 years old now and every day in the future, I will be fearless and brave.’
Louise Mason, The Cass - London Metropolitan University.
Louise Mason is an alchemist, an inventor. Her magical metals and self-made alloys are born from her furnace and displayed as mesmerising plaques, brooches and pendants. Her Mirrors of the Alchemist, like molten metal,reflect a distorted image giving a mysterious quality to her work.
Qingyang Shen, Edinburgh College of Art.
Exquisitely crafted silver and mother of pearl brooches act as frames to capture meaningful memories. You customize the soft silver interior of your brooch with an impression of a personally significant object. ‘Moments that carry emotional value can be fleeting and memories can become vague. Every important moment is worthy of protection, like the soft interior of a shell. Memories make us who we are.‘
Also featuring:
William Sharp, Glasgow School of Art.
The iconic design principles of The Bauhaus are the inspiration for his interactive Jewellery Kit – construct your own collection to celebrate The Bauhaus Centenary!
Poppy Norton, Morley College, London.
With a successful first career as an interior stylist and trend reporter Poppy retrained as a jeweller and has created a collection of super elegant folded brooches and rings in non-traditional materials such as powder coated brass, lino and wood, inspired by product design and architecture.
Holly Stant, University for the Creative Arts, Rochester.
In flux across the world Holly has crafted a delightful series of colourful travel inspired brooches documenting movement and journey.
Nine New Graduates changing and challenging themselves, their world and our world – a world in Flux!
