Birgit Laken at the ARTzaanstad 2017. Art & Jewel Event

Birgit Laken mainly develops her work through a themed project which can evolve and grow over a period of time, this can be a certain technique, in 1990 she edited a catalogue with work she made with the Japanese Mokume Gane technique, a technique developed from the sword making.

In 2007 she was introduced to an innovative haptic 3d design program, specially developed for artists and designer/makers on the Edinburgh College of Art by her colleague Ann Marie Shillito.

Occasionally, she got the possibility to test this program on its usability. Meanwhile, the new technique of 3D printing also achieved better results. In 2012 it became interesting for her to purchase this haptic 3D design program, which had now got the name Anarkik 3D Design package Cloud9. Since that time she regularly makes designs to be 3D printed.

She used the SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) method, which connects polyamide powder, this happens in a specialized company. 
 
The projects are currently underway, the 'Heartwear' project, the Summerland 'project and now the theme 'Animaled'.
The materials she uses are of a different kind, which can be coloured melamine, are bamboo plates, a bright yellow toilet cover. These sometimes last a long time before they are used, but are irresistible finds for her.
  
From 2002 on, photography became an important expression for her. She wanted to bring her jewellery together with her mainly nature photos. For example, she uses parts from her photos for her Animaled jewellery, which on the Art fair are presented in a frame, so that they can be admired on the wall.
 
Anarkik3D's haptic design program, designed for free designers and artists, will be demonstrated by her at the fair.