This serie of earrings was made in response to the ‘Marken-Schmuck’ exhibition theme. I interpreted the meaning of ‘stamp’ as in ‘to create a mark by pressing a special tool against a surface’. When we validate our transport tickets, a location, date & time is stamped on the ticket.
Munich U-Bahn ticket
Cette série de boucles d’oreilles a été créé en réponse au thème de l’exposition ‘Marken-Schmuck’. J’ai interprété la signification de ‘timbre’ dans le sens de ‘imprimer une marque, un cachet sur un document’. Quand nous validons notre ticket de transport, un timbre indiquant le lieu, la date et l’heure est imprimé sur le billet.
This a preview of the serie of jewellery pieces on the theme of my passport stamps: ‘arrived’, ‘departed’ and my Australian Permanent Resident Visa. See more images on the Gallery Jewellery page
Voici un aperçu de la série de bijoux sur le thème de mes tampons de passeport: ‘arrivée’, ‘départ’ et mon Visa Australien de Résident Permanent. Voyez plus d’images sur la pageGallery Jewellery
I came back from Europe early August; I will be leaving Australia to return to Europe in a few days. ‘Arrived’, ‘departed’, that’s what is stamped on my passport every time I arrive and leave Australia.
Je suis rentrée d’Europe en Australie début août,je partirai d’Australie dans quelques jours pour retourner en Europe. ‘Arrivée’, ‘Partie’, voilà ce qui est tamponné sur mon passeport à chaque fois que j’arrive en Australie et quand je quitte le pays.
The last two months have been very creative and active, preparing for two exhibitions.
Ces deux derniers mois ont étés très créatifs et actifs dans la préparation de deux expositions.
The first one is a group exhibition being held in Munich at Studio Gabi Green, opening 17 October. The theme and title of the exhibition is ‘Marken-Schmuck’. This title plays on the double meaning of ‘marken’ in German, which means both stamp and brand. Stamp here can be interpreted in many ways, the first one of course being postal stamp.
La première est une exposition de groupe qui va se tenir à Munich au Studio Gabi Green, vernissage le 17 octobre. Le thème et titre de l’exposition est ‘Marken-Schmuck’. Ce titre joue sur le sens multiple de ‘marken’ en allemand, qui peut signifier selon le contexte : timbre (postal ou autre), tampon et marque.
The other exhibition I will be participating to is organized by the Jewellers and Metalsmith Group of Australia (JMGA WA) and is being held in Fremantle (Western Australia). The theme of the exhibition is ‘Wear/Ware/Where’ and it will be opening on 16 October (venue to be confirmed).
L’autre exposition à laquelle je vais participer est organisée par le ‘Jewellers and Metalsmisth Group of Australia’ (JMGA WA) et va se tenir à Fremantle (Australie Occidentale). Le thème de l’exposition est ‘Wear/Ware/Where’ (homonymes qui se prononcent de la même manière mais qui ont une signification différente : Porter/Ustensile/Lieu).
I was able to develop a body of work that satisfied simultaneously the themes of both exhibitions which made the whole experience very interesting.
J’ai pu développer une collection de bijoux qui réponde simultanément aux critères des deux exhibitions, ce qui a rendu l’expérience très intéressante.
Australia is where I live – I hold a Permanent Resident Visa. France is where I’m from – I hold this connection lively. The immigration stamps on my passport record my whereabouts. They are the imprinted memory of my dual identity.
‘arrived’ stamp
I used the images of my visa and passport stamps as the visual basis for my jewellery, either on paper or on recycled sterling silver. I explored paper as a new medium, as a means of exploring my femininity. The images were stripped and folded in a ‘noeud-papillon’ in French (literally ‘butterfly-knot’ or a bow-tie). The butterfly, in Aboriginal (Nyoongar) culture, is the most delicate feminine creature. The earthy colours of the natural pigments, the Sandalwood and Quandong seeds also talk of the Australian landscape. To transfer images on silver I used a non-toxic, environmental friendly process where no acid is used, as opposed to traditional etching.
Australia visa
Je vis en Australie, j’ai un visa de Résident Permanent. Je suis d’origine française. Les tampons sur mon passeport enregistrent mes va-et-vient. Ils sont comme la mémoire imprimée de ma double identité. J’ai utilisé les images de mon visa et de ces tampons comme base visuelle pour la création de mes bijoux, soit sur du papier soit sur de l’argent recyclé. J’ai exploré le papier comme un nouveau medium, le caractère fragile du papier étant un moyen d’explorer ma féminité. Les images ont étés découpées et pliées à la manière d’un nœud papillon. Le papillon, dans la culture Aborigène (Nyoongar ) de l’Australie Occidentale, est la créature féminine la plus délicate. Les graines de Sandalwood, de Quandong, et les couleurs de pigments naturels font tous référence au paysage australien. Pour transférer les images sur de l’argent j’ai utilisé une méthode non-toxique et non polluante de gravure, différente de la gravure traditionnelle qui utilise des acides.
I have really enjoyed developing a narrative and talking about my story through these wearable objects. Photos of the jewellery will be posted on the blog once the exhibitions have started.
J’ai eu beaucoup de plaisir à développer un narratif qui raconte mon histoire à travers ces objets que l’on porte. Les photos des bijoux seront sur le blog une fois les expositions ouvertes.
Some of my jewellery will be presented at the art show Pigments of Your Imagination.The Exhibition will open with a Champagne Opening on Saturday 19 July from 7pm until 9.30pm followed by the exhibition and sale on Sunday 20 July.
Location: Sylvia & Harry Hoffman hall, Carmel Primary School, Perth, WA
This art exhibition showcases established and emerging Western Australian artists and artisans: paintings, jewellery, ceramics, sculpture and more.
Proceeds go to charity- supporting a school for disadvantaged children in Israel.
Great start of the year with a 5 days masterclass with Italian goldsmith Stefano Marchetti from Padova. The class was organissed by the Jewellers & Metalsmith Association of Western Australia and held at the Fremantle Arts Centre who generously provided their studio space. The focus was on learning the technique of making precious metal mosaic that Stefano is famous for. He generously shared his fantastic knowledge and experience, in a very relaxed atmosphere thanks to his great sense of humour.
I used copper and silver for my first sample of mosaic, working it into a curved shape, because I like a bit of a challenge:
The technique opens up to great possibilities and variations of design. Later in the week we learned to use gold in the mosaic to develop our own piece of jewellery. I worked on a design for a ring, mixing gold and silver.
I feel I learned so much in a week on working with gold, alloys, soldering and other bench tips. Here’s Stefano giving a soldering demonstration:
blandine hallé 