Along objects
2018
The pieces of this series are inspired by my trips to Hong Kong. With these objects I am aiming to show how I see this special city-state on the borders of European and Asian culture. The departing point of all exhibited pieces are specific objects or objectified creatures (in the case of the gold fish in the plastic bag), which serve as cultural markers and are strongly attached to Hong Kong and its inhabitants. With my work I examine the possibilities to arrange attributes belonging to a city and culture along a narrative, and address the problem of how is it possible to transfer the patterns and cultural references to pieces of jewelry, using specific figurative references. Although the main link between the exhibited pieces is not formal resemblance, their appearance evokes the decadent Hong Kong mood, the contrast of crumbling walls and vibrant colors.
Bamboo steamer
stackable necklace and bracelet
brass, ribbon
2018
/The work was made at the jewellery design class at the Art school of Buda./
Tea leaves
earrings
brass, copper
2018
Several pieces of the series use shapes and forms that highly resemble those of the real objects, used as inspiration. These pieces include “Tea Leaves”, which uses the colors and shapes of tea leaves processed in different ways, and the necklace and bracelet entitled “Bamboo steamer”, evoking the kitchen utensil used for the preparation of Hong Kong signature delicacies, dimsum. These pieces of the exhibition examine the possibilities to transform these objects of everyday life into wearable pieces of jewelry, carrying cultural references.
Goldfishes
necklace
heat-patinated copper, brass
2018
The gold fishes on the necklace got their unique pattern, resembling the patterns of real goldfish, by using a special heat-patination technique.
Queen Elisabeth
necklace
patinated copper, polyester, ribbon, silk
The metal frame of the necklace “Queen Elizabeth” evokes the shape of the 2 dollars and the 20 cents Hong Kong dollar coins, while the textile growing out from the middle got its form by applying shibori technique, using the above mentioned and other Hong Kong coins. Besides evoking these concrete forms, the necklace carries cultural and historic references, pointing out how coins are used to represent and transform identities. Until 1993 all Hong Kong dollar coins featured the portrait of Elizabeth II. When sovereignty over Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to China, the Queen’s portrait was replaced by an image of the Bauhinia blakeana flower, the symbol of Hong Kong. On the necklace, this change is represented by the shape, formed by coins and resembling a tropical flower, growing out from the middle of the piece.
Where are you?
2 necklaces + half pair of earrings
brass, patinated copper, cord
These pieces are related to the unique Hong Kong markets, which specialize on different goods (e.g. gold fish market, bird market). These places, with their special atmosphere, are closely attached to the traditions and image of Hong Kong. Nevertheless, their position in contemporary society is controversial. How to solve the dilemma between the conservation of cultural traditions and the welfare of animals? This question is addressed in “Birdcage” and “Where Are You?”. In the group of objects “Where Are You?” one piece depicts a gold fish in a plastic bag, as they are sold at the Mong Kok district fish market. The other piece belonging to the group shows an empty bag, where the (former) presence of the animal is only evoked by the bubbles emerging from the mouth of the fish. The disappearance of the gold fish from the bag refers to the disappearance of traditions, as well as the problem of freedom and captivity. Similar ideas are raised by the necklace entitled “Birdcage”, where the shape of the piece recalls a birdcage and a wing of a bird at the same time.
