The making and sharing a piece of jewelry is a communicative act.

As artists we impose our ideas on our materials and in turn the wearer—our work is a reflection of ourselves. But the wearer of our jewelry isn't a static plinth in service of our idea(s). In the act of wearing our piece, they become the curator of our idea(s) actively recontextualizing and interpreting our work ex situ.

As artists can we better understand our work through relinquishing control to the wearer?

To explore this dynamic, I started first with form—specifically a Rorschach inkblot—an historical allusion to the act of interpretation. I then chose to use reflective material—mirror acrylic—in reference to the pretence of self reflection in creation. the reflective inkblot brooch is mounted in its own negative space contained within a framed wall mirror.  When the brooch is removed from the mirror to be worn—or recontextualized—the wearer is confronted with the absence of their reflection in the shape of the brooch they are now wearing, creating a communicative loop between the maker and the wearer.

This piece is shipped within its display book and is ready to hang, exhibit, and wear.

This piece was made in 2017 for The Contemporary Jewelry Exchange, an online International online exhibition of jewellers who are paired through the act of curation to make a piece of jewelry for each other. 

2017

Silver, mirror acrylic, wood, galvanized steel wire

21 X 16 X 2 cm framed piece

30.5 X 22.5 X 3 cm framed piece. within display book