Beads by Daniel Kruger

Artist list

Daniel Kruger

Born in Cape Town, his perspective on classic jewellery is that of the 'outsider', and over the years it proofed to be a very fruitful one. Nevertheless, next to all his allusions to a long established vernacular, you regularly detecting an unexpected African sparkle in his work... In the past he often received remarks on this, so this time he decided to take his inspiration from his South-African roots.

During the past decades textile and beads regularly played a part in contemporary art jewellery, but to create pieces using only bead weaving is highly unusual. In doing so Kruger demonstrates what a pity that is. He made necklaces in which metal was superfluous and any distinction between chain and pendant has disappeared. His new jewellery pieces form a natural whole, and they are lightweight, flexible and alluring. That it took a huge amount of time to produce them will surprise nobody, but fortunately it doesn't burden the result. Perhaps the most African aspect of these pieces is the effortless way freedom and structure are merged, the ease with which the traditional is mixed with renewal.

Next to these necklaces, Kruger will also show other, earlier works in which beads and weaving play an important part. In this way the exhibition put the emphasis on one of the many enrichments this artist has added to the age old jewellers profession.

Ward Schrijver 
(© Galerie Rob Koudijs)