Life as a jewellery student 1: Imagination / Survival

imagination / survival (2008) steel wire, polymer clay

While processing new photos, I've been able to have a look again through the picture archival from the two and a bit years past. A little time in between then and now adds a certain tenderness and mercy to the way we look at things … there was a lot of emotion and learning, plenty of sweat and tears, which went into this first semester piece.

I thought about this work as a "portable garden", something that could be a physical manifestation of imagination, and also a place to seek comfort in, to hide in sometimes.

– Click on the images for more detail –

todo sobre mi madre – safe armour neck piece

todo sobre mi madre, 2008, safety pins, industrial catch * Inari Kiuru 2008

I've recently began to photograph my jewellery work, mostly for archival purposes. This is a neck piece inspired by the 1999 Pedro Almodovar film All About My Mother, made for the annual RMIT jewellery auction a couple of years ago. I like the graphic way safety pins weave together and form a strong yet light texture. One day I'll make a protective coat out of them. Armour for the city.

Thank you again Kiah Grace McIntyre for the long and patient loan of the piece.