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| Tessa Holland |
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| The principle strand of my practice is a specialisation in and exploration of plique-à-jour enamelling. This technically demanding process suspends fused glass across thin air, filling voids in a structure of precious metal… but the effort is rewarded with delicate skeletal forms and jewelled colours.
IMAGE left: Plique-à-jour earrings. A continuous twisting form that pierces the ear from behind - the curve sweeps forward to balance the weight, holding them securely in place. In a parallel strand of practice, one-of a kind, sometimes eccentric pieces emerge from exhibition briefs or personal interests; and I find it stimulating to explore political, environmental or just playful trains of thought through the medium of jewellery. Manipulating materials invites one to consider their intrinsic properties - like an alchemist - combining pure chemistry and a kind of amimism. The source of precious metals is part of their hidden identity, and I hope to extend my interest with research into ethical mining practices as part of a Masters from October. Inevetably, this will be expressed as new work... although the precise outcomes are deliciously unknown... Work can be ordered or made to commission. Comments on these few thoughts are welcome for their own sake. |
More Images
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| plique-a-jour enamel ring: 18ct gold |
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| ANIMAL: part 1 of 'Carbon Cycle' (a triptych, also VEGETABLE and MINERAL). Materials: pearls (water), bird vertebra (air), cat's whiskers (land), recycled gold |
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| Sketches in precious metal... experimenting with new forms. Work in progress combining beaten discs of gold and silver (April 2010) |
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The Association for Contemporary Jewellery PO Box 37807 London SE23 1XJ United Kingdom Telephone: + 00 44 (0)20 8291 4201 Fax: + 00 44 (0)20 8291 4452 Email: enquiries@acj.org.uk