Interview with Claudio Pino

Do you think that jewelry is being standardized? What is there of local and universal in your artistic work?
I do prefer to believe that no standard is found in today’s jewelry field. For me, doors are open to so many horizons. That said, my artistic work does reflect the “local and the universal” in many ways, especially in the thematic I chose to explore. An example of this would be my Kinetic Ring entitled Magnificence Stellaire, which was inspired by the immensity of the starry sky in the farthest reaches of the northern hemisphere. The central stone, a black opal, partially transparent, with bright blue and purple flakes likes fire fall, portrays the aurora borealis with colorful and turbulent wisps of air in the vibrant darkness of the night. In this ring, the stone freely rotates 360 degrees in four directions yet remains facing up at all times. This is the result of a carefully designed and complex mechanism that allows for a smooth, delicate motion in order to reproduce the dynamic of the aurora borealis. Living in Quebec, I had the opportunity to experience a few spectacular auroras borealis during winter. Yet, for me this ring is much more then the representation of a local personal experience; it symbolizes a vast sky, a sky that unites us all despite the great distances that separate us.

What do you expect when exposing your work to the public (for example with an exhibition)?
Recently, I had a solo exhibition entitled “The Power of Rings” at the Canadian Art Guild of Montreal where I presented 40 one-of-a-kind sculptural rings with more than 20 Kinetic Rings. Inspired by the exploration of moving systems, insect metamorphoses, or of the rhythm of urban life, each piece offered to the public an unfolding narrative filled with surprising details, arising from new in-depth research into the meeting place between elegance and innovation, while bridging the gap between historical and modern esthetics. With this show, I was investigating the importance of the ring in history, as well as its unique place at different periods in time. Rings symbolize love, power, success or serve as talismans… and they are filled with incomparable powers… from ancient Egypt to the 21st century, their history of thousands of years is complex and fascinating. And this show was eliciting questions such as, What makes a ring powerful? Is it the interplay of shifting light, shadow and depth created by the unique combination of metallic, matched colors, or is it the vintage surface that recalls memories and projects unmistakable power?

Are other areas besides the jewelry, present in your work?
I definitely have an architectural approach when I design my pieces. I give special attention to how the light reflects on the shapes, as well as the shadows that it can evoke. Also, I often add sophisticated mechanisms to give the mounted gemstone freedom to dance. Some weight is added to the setting in order to control the speed of motion and permit the stone to always face up no matter the hand’s position. Fundamental principles of physical and mechanical engineering are involved in the design process. As Bonnie Siegler wrote “Art meets science, Claudio Pino designs sculptural rings that reflect the wearer’s movements.”

The last work, book, film, that has moved me was...
Work: Cereus, Queen of the Night by Philomene Longpre
Book: Empire of the Senses: The Sensual Culture Reader by David Howes
Film: Mars et Avril by Martin Villeneuve

A place, space, country whose creativity surprises me...
Plat Africa Competition in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Is there any designer, jeweller, artist, you appreciate a lot?
Designer: Alexander McQueen
Jeweller: René Jules Lalique
And: I would say also the drawings of mechanisms made by Leonardo Da Vinci.

What piece or work has given you the most satisfaction?
Each of my jewelry designs brings me different forms of satisfaction. It could be on both conceptual and technical levels as well as based on the emotional drive which the design can trigger in the public. Recently, I created a sculptural ring entitled INOX Reverie made from stainless steel and gold, which entailed a few technical and conceptual challenges. This ring was built without any soldering point. Powerful, resistant, and strong, yet lustrous and so soft to the touch, its design focuses on the unique properties of stainless steel. It emphasizes the contrast between dark and light, hard and soft, tough and tender. Thus, it juxtaposes the depth of black onyx to luminous yellow Australian Prehnite. INOX Reverie suggests a dreamy, musing state within the fast, contemporary realm and pace of urban life.