I Begin To See Objects As Jewellery. Nicole Baert interviewed by Klimt02

Tell us about your background. What were your first influences to be creative and become an artist and what has drawn you to contemporary jewellery?
As long as I remember, I have been drawing, painting, or making “things”. My background as a painter, a graphic artist, and a milliner certainly has an impact on the way I deal with this new challenge. Believe it or not, the very beginning of BLÅ was a little piece of kindling wood. Its form made me start thinking and creating some rings. I started to experiment with driftwood and paper. These last 3 years were a very interesting discovery trip as materials have their possibilities and their limitations.

 
How important is networking for you in your professional practice and what are your preferred tools fort his?
Networking is very important to meet all kinds of new people: creators, buyers, believers, collectors... I still learn every day to deal better with Facebook and Instagram.
 

What are your general thoughts on the contemporary jewellery world, education, market, development…) , where do you see chances and where are dead ends?
I’m very enthusiastic about the freedom in creating contemporary jewellery and the possibilities of experimenting with all kinds of material. Making my hats, I was used to experimenting with materials that were not meant to make hats. Designing contemporary jewellery gives a new possibility.  It’s a good thing that there is more and more attention to jewellery in the broadest way. Contemporary jewellery is in many ways very fascinating. There is a lot of variation, some are like a painting, a story, and how nice to meet the people behind these creations for example by this platform.


Necklace: Dancing blue bird, 2017, Paper & cambric fibre, paper pulp, rayon wire, ultramarine blue pigment, 9 x 7 x 5 cm, Photo by: Nicole Baert
 

Thinking about your career, what role do technology, and the digital play in your artistic development & communication?
I prefer to work and make things with my hands. Never say never, but I don't see myself using 3 D printing. Working with my hands gives me the opportunity to make changes. The final result is still a surprise. That is not possible with 3D. Technology also offers many more possibilities to reach for a wider audience and to see what happens elsewhere in the world in the field of contemporary jewellery and in every area of art. You can discover all kinds of books, galleries, interviews, a whole lot of interesting and inspiring things. Unfortunately, there are only 24 hours a day and I prefer to spend most of the time to create in my studio.
 

Brooch: Blue Hangover, 2017, Driftwood, ultramarine blue pigment, 13 x 6 cm, Photo by: Nicole Baert


How has your work changed over the past few years and what are you excited about these days?
First of all, I made a switch to a new discipline. Although there is a limitation due to the color, BLÅ makes me search and experiment with new shades, materials, structures, and forms to keep it fascinating. Every time a new challenge. So, it is a real discovery trip. There are a lot of shades blue and even in ultramarine blue, there is a lot of variation. I do not start with a sketch. I start and while making,” it” changes until “it becomes “IT”. While thinking about how to present my jewellery, I started to create some objects for the presentation. In the end, I began to see these “objects” as jewellery, not to wear, but to enjoy in the room. I’m excited about the way it goes. One thing leads to another. I make also pictures which are printed on aluminum on which I start to paint with blue pigments. I wonder where the jewellery will bring me in the future. I am really excited about the fact that despite that there is so much negativity in the world nowadays, we still can enjoy beauty in so many forms en contemporary jewellery is one of it.