Back

A Celebration of International Women's Day

Exhibition  /  06 May 2020  -  12 May 2020
Published: 05.05.2020
Yadi Wang. Piece: Sexual abuse, 2018. Silver, white chocolate.. Approx. 5 x 5 x 4 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana. . Statement: It is hard for girls tell other people what they suffer, especially about sex. I want to use my work to show the audience what girls feel and why they choose to keep silent. The inspiration comes from the experience of sexual harassment when I was young.. Yadi Wang
Piece: Sexual abuse, 2018
Silver, white chocolate.
Approx. 5 x 5 x 4 cm
Photo by: Sarah O’Hana

Statement: It is hard for girls tell other people what they suffer, especially about sex. I want to use my work to show the audience what girls feel and why they choose to keep silent. The inspiration comes from the experience of sexual harassment when I was young.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.

Intro
The BA (Honours) Jewellery and Objects programme at The School of Jewellery in Birmingham offers students the opportunity to explore many different aspects of contemporary jewellery practice. As part of their studies, students were asked to create works in response to International Women’s Day.

Artist list

Morvarid Alavifard, Charlotte Cowling, Chiyang Duan, Erica Laver, Hannah Turner, Yadi Wang, Zhili Wei, Wenlewa Xi, Shengpo Ye, Dantong Yu, Bingjie Zhao
Project manager for Athena SWAN (national Charter for gender equality in education) Dr Kate Carruthers Thomas was invited to select works that resonated with her, that celebrated and raised awareness of women’s lives and achievements. The resulting exhibition was first showed at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2019 as part of the xCHANGE festival that marks International Women’s Day every year. It is the hard work of students still in the early stages of their second year of study, together with committed staff working across faculties.
 
The exhibitors come from many countries far and wide and the group comprises male and female. True experiences lie behind many of these works. What is revealed here is the shared concern that young people from around the world have about the inequalities that continue to be faced globally by women.

Curator: Toni Mayner
Collaborators: Dr Kate Carruthers Thomas, Dr Sarah O’Hana, Beaulagh Brooks.

 
Moravid Alavifard. Head Piece: Where does the hate come from?, 2018. Fibre, copper.. Approx. 3 Ø x 200 cm. Photo by: Moravid Alavifard. . Statement: Representing the hair of women, this woolen piece includes my three questions for people from Iran: Is banning effective for humans? Where does this hate come from? Is respect the solution to such problems? .  . Moravid Alavifard
Head Piece: Where does the hate come from?, 2018
Fibre, copper.
Approx. 3 Ø x 200 cm
Photo by: Moravid Alavifard

Statement: Representing the hair of women, this woolen piece includes my three questions for people from Iran: Is banning effective for humans? Where does this hate come from? Is respect the solution to such problems?
 
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Charlotte Cowling. Piece: Keep out of reach of women, 2019. Card, plastic, foil, copper.. 7 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana. . Statement: An investigation into the mistreatment and underrepresentation of women in pharmaceutical trials and its impact.. Charlotte Cowling
Piece: Keep out of reach of women, 2019
Card, plastic, foil, copper.
7 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm
Photo by: Sarah O’Hana


Statement: An investigation into the mistreatment and underrepresentation of women in pharmaceutical trials and its impact.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Charlotte Cowling. Piece: Keep out of reach of women, 2019. Card, plastic, foil, copper.. 7 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana. Detail view. Charlotte Cowling
Piece: Keep out of reach of women, 2019
Card, plastic, foil, copper.
7 x 6.4 x 2.5 cm
Photo by: Sarah O’Hana

Detail view

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Chiyan Duan. Object: Razor and blades, 2018. Acrylic, nickel silver.. Approx. 20 x 4 x 2 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana. . Statement: This piece questions the gendered messages society sends through everyday objects and seeks to challenge these behaviours.. Chiyan Duan
Object: Razor and blades, 2018
Acrylic, nickel silver.
Approx. 20 x 4 x 2 cm
Photo by: Sarah O’Hana

Statement: This piece questions the gendered messages society sends through everyday objects and seeks to challenge these behaviours.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Erica Laver. Ring: Control, 2018. Silver, cubic zirconia.. Approx. 7 x 13 x 2.5 cm. Photo by: Erica Laver.   . . Statement: 89% of domestic violence victims are women. Abusers see these women of ‘things’ to control. Engagement rings are only traditionally worn by women, tying them to man. This traditional engagement ring holds the hand up in the proposed position. However, the underside of the hand shows a bar from the ring down to the wrist which refrains and controls the hand from moving. Domestic violence is always hidden behind closed doors, but controls victims daily.. Erica Laver
Ring: Control, 2018
Silver, cubic zirconia.
Approx. 7 x 13 x 2.5 cm
Photo by: Erica Laver

 
Statement: 89% of domestic violence victims are women. Abusers see these women of ‘things’ to control. Engagement rings are only traditionally worn by women, tying them to man. This traditional engagement ring holds the hand up in the proposed position. However, the underside of the hand shows a bar from the ring down to the wrist which refrains and controls the hand from moving. Domestic violence is always hidden behind closed doors, but controls victims daily.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Erica Laver. Ring: Control, 2018. Silver, cubic zirconia.. Approx. 7 x 13 x 2.5 cm. Photo by: Erica Laver. Alternative view.. Erica Laver
Ring: Control, 2018
Silver, cubic zirconia.
Approx. 7 x 13 x 2.5 cm
Photo by: Erica Laver

Alternative view.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Hannah Turner. Piece: Gendered lenses, 2018. Wood, brass, acetate.. Approx. 20 x 5 x 5 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana . . Statement: The lenses are inspired by women I interviewed but are personal to my experience. They are a comment on seeing the world through a ‘gendered lens’. Three lenses focus on how society stereotypically views women and three lenses offer a more progressive view, suggesting what defines a woman is limitless and endless.. Hannah Turner
Piece: Gendered lenses, 2018
Wood, brass, acetate.
Approx. 20 x 5 x 5 cm

Photo by: Sarah O’Hana

Statement: The lenses are inspired by women I interviewed but are personal to my experience. They are a comment on seeing the world through a ‘gendered lens’. Three lenses focus on how society stereotypically views women and three lenses offer a more progressive view, suggesting what defines a woman is limitless and endless.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Hannah Turner. Piece: Gendered lenses, 2018. Wood, brass, acetate.. Approx. 20 x 5 x 5 cm. Photo by: Hannah Turner . On body.. Hannah Turner
Piece: Gendered lenses, 2018
Wood, brass, acetate.
Approx. 20 x 5 x 5 cm

Photo by: Hannah Turner
On body.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Zhili Wei. Bag: You can't see the pain..., 2018. Textile, paper, pills, sanitary fabrics.. Approx. 18 x 12 x 3 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana. . Statement: …but we know how it feels. I would like to speak for every woman who has period pain or endometriosis. Also to message those who have no experience of period pain: your understanding will be appreciated.. Zhili Wei
Bag: You can't see the pain..., 2018
Textile, paper, pills, sanitary fabrics.
Approx. 18 x 12 x 3 cm
Photo by: Sarah O’Hana

Statement: …but we know how it feels. I would like to speak for every woman who has period pain or endometriosis. Also to message those who have no experience of period pain: your understanding will be appreciated.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Wenlewa Xi. Glasses: Education, 2018. Copper.. Approx. 14 x 14 x 1.5 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana. . Statement: One of the major causes of gender inequality is education. Perhaps some women could have been outstanding, but because of the lack of good educational environments, they lost at the starting line. Narrow-minded viewpoints might lead them to believe that women are naturally dependent on men, or that women are inferior to men. I want to express the importance of education for women and even the whole of humanity. The glasses represent knowledge and the removable wafers rotten or conservative ideas. As the symbols of difficulties and unfair treatments to women, those small wafers can be removed when people receive a good education.. Wenlewa Xi
Glasses: Education, 2018
Copper.
Approx. 14 x 14 x 1.5 cm
Photo by: Sarah O’Hana

Statement: One of the major causes of gender inequality is education. Perhaps some women could have been outstanding, but because of the lack of good educational environments, they lost at the starting line. Narrow-minded viewpoints might lead them to believe that women are naturally dependent on men, or that women are inferior to men. I want to express the importance of education for women and even the whole of humanity. The glasses represent knowledge and the removable wafers rotten or conservative ideas. As the symbols of difficulties and unfair treatments to women, those small wafers can be removed when people receive a good education.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Shengpo Ye. Ring: Rape, 2018. Resin, pigment, gold foil.. Approx. 8 x 6 x 7 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana. . Statement: The ring is based on the theme of sexual violence and explores the human behaviour of ‘rape’. In the choice of colour, white and black represent the purity and fear of women respectively, while gold foil represents hope. It is possible to have a positive future after such an assault.. Shengpo Ye
Ring: Rape, 2018
Resin, pigment, gold foil.
Approx. 8 x 6 x 7 cm
Photo by: Sarah O’Hana

Statement: The ring is based on the theme of sexual violence and explores the human behaviour of ‘rape’. In the choice of colour, white and black represent the purity and fear of women respectively, while gold foil represents hope. It is possible to have a positive future after such an assault.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Dantong Yu. Necklace: Imperfection, 2018. Polymer, graphite.. Approx. 50 x 1 x 1 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana. . Statement: Women may doubt themselves and get self-contemptuous sometimes. Some of them choose to hide the real characters and disguise. I was inspired by the book Hanging Around by Manon Van Kouswijk.. Dantong Yu
Necklace: Imperfection, 2018
Polymer, graphite.
Approx. 50 x 1 x 1 cm
Photo by: Sarah O’Hana

Statement: Women may doubt themselves and get self-contemptuous sometimes. Some of them choose to hide the real characters and disguise. I was inspired by the book Hanging Around by Manon Van Kouswijk.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Bingjie Zhao. Piece: Listen to the voice of knowledge, 2018. Alloyed metals, Resin, book pages.. Approx. 20 x 7 x 15 cm. Photo by: Sarah O’Hana. Ear defender. . . Statement: The ear defender has book pages cast inside to keep the wearer from abusive language. It is also in the shape of a headphone, to communicate with the audience to listen to their own voice and think critically with the support of knowledge.. Bingjie Zhao
Piece: Listen to the voice of knowledge, 2018
Alloyed metals, Resin, book pages.
Approx. 20 x 7 x 15 cm
Photo by: Sarah O’Hana
Ear defender.

Statement: The ear defender has book pages cast inside to keep the wearer from abusive language. It is also in the shape of a headphone, to communicate with the audience to listen to their own voice and think critically with the support of knowledge.

© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Appreciate APPRECIATE

Related Forum:

Space/Craft. An Eye into Stephen Bottomley's Praxis. Exhibition Review by Nantia Koulidou.

Space/Craft. An Eye into Stephen Bottomley's Praxis. Exhibition Review by Nantia Koulidou

Nantia Koulidou
Article
 / 17Jan2020
Stephen Bottomley, new Head of School of Jewellery at BCU.

Stephen Bottomley, new Head of School of Jewellery at BCU

Stephen Bottomley
Article
 / 04Apr2017

Related Events:

Voyagers.

Voyagers

Exhibition
 / 13Feb2020 - 14Mar2020
Museum Reich der Kristalle
Munich, Germany
Birmingham City School of Jewellery. MA Degree Show 2019.

Birmingham City School of Jewellery. MA Degree Show 2019

Exhibition
 / 03Sep2019 - 09Sep2019
School of Jewellery. Birmingham City University
Birmingham, United Kingdom

Other Related Contents 

School of Jewellery. Birmingham City University.

School of Jewellery. Birmingham City University

School
 / Birmingham, United Kingdom
Single Event.
Join us - Become member.
> <

More Exhibitions