Karen Pontoppidan: Context

Artist list

Karen Pontoppidan

The difference in status between the fine and the applied arts is a phenomenon that has kept Karen Pontoppidan busy for some time now. Not only from her own professional perspective, but also from her position as professor at the Konstfack University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm where she educates the next generation of jewellery designers.

Her previous collection 'Canvas' referred literally to paintings, but this time she wanted to be more precise in comparing the two positions. In stead of just focusing on the end product, she this time incorporated also the making of the work into the concept. Where as the jeweller makes his or her work mostly in the solitude of the studio, fine art- and industrial design artists rely more and more on execution by others. It led Pontoppidan to a simple conclusion. She enlisted specialized assistance to produce her new work: painters coloured canvas, students made metal backings and goldsmiths the staples needed for fixating a three-dimensional form. Also the selling price was part of the idea: producing larger qualities leads to lower prices.

Based on these simple points of departure, Karen Pontoppidan realized a stunning group of a 100 different brooches, which Galerie Rob Koudijs has the privilege of showing in its entirety for the first time. Naturally Pontoppidan remains the creative author, but the way the work came about, gives an interesting comment on the usual workshop approach. Fortunately it also resulted in seductively coloured, very wearable pieces of jewellery, without, for the time being, a fine-arts-price-tag.

Ward Schrijver (© Galerie Rob Koudijs)