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€UROMIX
'€uromix'
brings together the work of nine top jewellery designers and makers
from Holland, Germany and Spain - many of whom have chosen KLJ for
their first showing in the UK. Their creations can be seen alongside
those of four British jewellers and metalsmiths in an eclectic, tactile
show that at once manages to embrace humorous, fun designs, meticulous
skills, a huge variety of materials and the gallery’s distinctive
elegant aesthetic.
Collections on show include the delightful work of Dutch designer
Felieke van der Leest - brooches, necklaces and bracelets that are
crocheted or knitted with the thinnest of threads - each piece perfectly
executed and ranging from a new take on the classic charm bracelet
to a spermheart brooch. "The pieces I make are very simple"
says Van der Leest, "you can immediately identify with them.
I consciously choose to design jewellery that you don't need a degree
in art history to understand."
In complete contrast to Felieke's miniature masterpieces, yet equally
as intricate, are the stunning, life-size , 2D garments and objects
created by Welsh designer Julia Griffiths Jones. Aluminium and steel
are coiled, bent and twisted to resemble textile techniques such as
quilting, patchwork, lace and embroidery, and then painted. The resulting
brightly coloured swirls, shapes, flowers and creatures are inspired
by imagery from her childhood, local legends and the experiences gained
from her travel and time spent in Eastern Europe where this craft
form flourishes. Pieces are spot-welded together to become exuberant
representations of shirts, aprons, smocks and even a vase of flowers.
For Julia, wire is a joyful medium and by bending and shaping it she
feels she makes it dance - like stitching in the air. Paper may not
be the first material that comes to mind in the creation of jewellery,
but renowned Dutch jeweller Nel Linssen's pieces are made entirely
of intricately folded and constructed paper - discs or strips are
layered and coiled into beautifully tactile arm and neck pieces.
Other work in the exhibition includes jewellery by German designer
Claudia Ruehl whose fanciful rings in brightly coloured rubber are
a delight, and Erik Urbschat’s more classical but unconventional
‘Hedgehog’ rings with gold moving spines, and others that
use plasters and grass to create textured surfaces on silver. Dutch
designer Stephanie Jendis is showing her tableaux brooches using rough
cut semi precious stones, plastic, gold and silver and British metalsmiths
Jenifer Wall and Sam Maund have created a striking series of large
platters in pewter, copper and brass, with a complementary collection
of jewellery. The Spanish contributors are Tensi Solsona with his
his Dadaesque brooches and Lali Mensa who in contrast shows an intimate
particularly feminine collection with delicate silver and golden structures
encasing pearls and coral flowers. Kath Libbert comments: "€uromix
is largely a result of my own travels throughout Europe over the past
few years and the pieces on show are very much my choice from some
of the most creative and skillful work that I have seen. Euromix is
also my way of marking the year of the €uro, bringing together
at Salts Mill some of Europe's top designers. It is a fun show and
I hope that visitors will share my response to the designers' delightful
creations and amazing skills and techniques". |