A deeper thought into Jewellery.

This week I attended a 'making things make Sense' by hazel white  head of the Masters Course at DOJ.

It was really an eye open for me personally as someone studying in the jewellery field. The different approaches to design and her out comes where so different to what i would normally consider being a traditional jewellery piece, and brought up some important aspects to consider and understand when making jewellery.


One of the things that really got me thinking was the point she put across that jewellery should be thought of not only as a nice little trinket used to attach to your body or clothes in order to coordinate, add or dress up your outfit, but be thought of as a designers point of view also. This being think deeper into the thought process of the piece of jewellery you are designing, think deeper on the important key issues of whom the piece is for and if its a certain design for a certain person, then how could this be designed for them.
It is very common that the majority of people , when asked to pick out their most precious piece of jewellery they don't necessary point out the most valuable or flashy, they simply pick the one that has a sentimental value. Like an old piece handed down to them through several generations, kept as a reminder of their passed family and how they lived and once owned and chaired memories with the piece is something i think is truly special. Thinking about it no two of my most cherished pieces of jewellery are two that are money wise worthless, one is a small rope with a collection of simple coloured beads tied with a knot to form a little bracelet, something my little brother surprised me with one day he came home from nursery, and its my most treasured, every time i look at it it takes me back to that moment, i think that's what makes the difference between a piece of beautiful jewellery to a treasured possession, it has the ability to take you back and arise memories and emotions felt.


So I wonder could i take this perspective into my designs as i progress, and be able to bring emotions and memory for people wanting to buy my jewellery in the future.
Another point that Hazel made was that jewellery are 'objects that tell storys' .
I totally agree with her on this one, i for one am a big fan on the narrative of jewellery, i think story telling is another way to provoke viewers like this in the same way.
A successful way of doing this i think is to be able to design a piece of jewellery that does tell a story, but doesn't underline it, meaning the basics to put together into a story are there but it is left in a way in order for the person viewing the piece to put in their own perception and understanding to the piece, keeping the ability to explore your mind wonder open. This is successful in the way that everybody has different life experiences and different understanding from one another, an easy way to have you re own story or sentimental value of the piece, which leads to of course better sales as your able to communicate better with whom look at your work.
One of the examples hazel used was a white wedding ring that was bound by a ting hoop which linked another wedding the ring, the idea behind it was a new wedding ring was bot a few years after the original, of course the owner didn't just want to through away their sentimental wedding band so in stead they are looped together with a hoop symbolising togetherness, another suggestion was that it was a symbol of linking the family together, the small piece resembling the child. The point made was clear everyone has their own interpretation of design.


Below is a brooch piece by the contemporary narrative jeweler jack Cunningham.




Jack CCunningham is a great example of a jeweler who is able to communicate and prompt the viewer to bring there own understanding into a piece. I find narrative jewellery fascinating in the aspect of being able to tell story's as well as being a wearable piece, looking on line and over his website i have found that he doesn't mentioned what exactly his designs mean. I think this could be a deliberate response making the viewer having to make up their own mind on the piece. From my understanding i think this piece is about life and death, 'timelines' shown by the ruler that i think marks out years/time in peoples life, the small hand print of a child and the green plant that has just seeded to me represents life, and growth, and time. The heart also represents to me relationships and family.Of course that's only my quick interpretation, anyone Else's may be completely different.


Below are a few quotes i found interesting on the aspects of narrative.

" I am also interested in the dialogue that is consequently established between the maker – the originator of the artefacts statement, the wearer – the vehicle by which the work is seen, and the viewer – the audience who thereafter engages with the work." Jack Cunningham.




"A piece of jewellery tells us something of the designer maker, who may otherwise remain quite anonymous. It indicates a conscious decision making by the wearer, who then becomes the vehicle whereby a wider audience views the work. For the wearer therefore, there exists the potential to interpret the work through a personal frame of reference. The desire of the wearer to make his or her own personal statement is significant, and enables the wearer to become part of this process of communication with a wider audience. A triangular relationship is formed, maker-wearer-viewer." Jack Cunningham.




His official website if you'd like to have a look for yourself.

http://www.jackcunningham.co.uk/jack_01.html

I am also thinking more about Jewellery in the sense that it has the ability to say something about you, it also has the ability to change how people behave and interact with you. It arises some questions on how people perceive you and accept you. Which leads me on to think does jewellery have an age limit, and is different pieces of jewellery accepted in different places and by different types of people.

 

Like these fashion jewellery pieces,  would an elderly woman be accepted wearing this necklace?.

we accept this image as it is a model on a catwalk that is where the piece belongs so to speak, but could it really be accepted worn outside on the street? maybe not. The better chance of accept ion is if you wore around fashion/jewellery designers at an event etc. Its a shame really why people have so much stereotypical viewers on what belongs where and what isn't acceptable, but however i feel i understand a little more in designing for potential buyers. Not only do i have to go through the thinking process into the design but also need to think about all of these aspects on the potential buyer.