IntoFlora

A perennial inspiration for great paintings and poems, from Van Gogh’s vibrant sunflowers to Wordsworth’s golden daffodils and Georgia O’Keefe’s suggestive blossoms, flowers are beautiful, sensual, dangerous and pure.  As tokens of love and worship, instruments of seduction or gifts of remembrance, flowers play a powerful role in the way we express emotion.

In an exploration of the creative inspiration of all things blooming, Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery is launching IntoFlora, an exhibition of contemporary jewellery on a floral theme featuring eight international jewellery artists, curated by Kath Libbert.

Kath Libbert, renowned for her imaginative approach to curating contemporary jewellery, has added a playful aspect to IntoFlora, asking each artist to create a special floral tribute to a famous individual who has inspired them, called I’m Into….

Says Kath Libbert, ‘The work of the eight artists I’ve chosen is truly a floral feast for the eyes! And as a bonus their I’m Into… pieces offer a fascinating insight into their processes of inspiration.’

The artists and their Inspiration:

Up-and-coming British jeweller Mikaela Lyons has created a sumptuously colourful collaged body sculpture in honour of Florence Welch  of Florence and The Machine. Says Mikaela, ‘The piece encompasses ideas of woman, mother nature and empowerment.’

Jeweller Ana Hagopian from Barcelona presents Campanula, a delicately beautiful tribute to Cate Blanchett – a myriad of purple paper blossoms that sit gracefully on the body.

Natalya Pinchuk, (Russia/USA) makes fantastical jewellery installations from wool, leather, plastic and artificial hair, that both compel and disturb. She cites her inspirational person as the American food activist and author of The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan.

Selina Campbell, (UK) makes her own homage to interiors guru and fabric designer Tricia Guild, whose own designs feature strong floral elements. Selina incorporated dyed freshwater pearls for a splash of colour into a formalised graphic dahlia design. On being asked for her reaction to the necklace, Tricia said she “was very touched to have provided inspiration…..and dahlias are one of my favourite flowers!”

Japanese jewellery maker Masayuki Nagata creates large blossoms from chemically rusted iron, which he then intricately decorates. For this show, he has used camelia buds to form a ring and necklace in honour of the Marxist revolutionary, Che Guevara. He says, ‘Like Che, I share the desire to change things.’

Lisa Juen, (Germany/China), chooses as her inspirational person the provocative Canadian rock star Peaches – whose extreme performances push boundaries in the same way that Lisa Juen’s jewellery does. Lisa makes illuminated flashing neon statement floral jewellery, often using false nails as petals. ‘My fascination with light paired with the imagery of the flower, the symbol of femininity, seduction, sex and strength, found strong support and inspiration in Peaches’ performance.’

Anna Atterling is a Swedish designer who has chosen the director of Cirkus Cirkör, Tilde Björfors. In homage to Tilde, Anna has made a silver crown, which she describes as ‘light, special and sensitive, to match a queen like her.’Says Anna, ‘She is an amazing person. She really makes changes and works with all her heart to make the world a better place.’

Ines Schwotzer’s, (Germany), work is inspired by nature – she uses traditional lace-making techniques to shape steel wire into floral forms and textures that express growing and fading, opening and closing, frailty and tightness. For this project, she has chosen Van Gogh as her inspirational person and has of course made the most exquisite sunflower!