St Lucas School of Arts Antwerp
School
Published: 18.01.2023
- Website St. Lucas Antwerp
- Website Jewellery Department
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- Mail:
- ludovik.colpaert
kdg.be
- Management:
- Ludovik Colpaert

The Jewelry Design | Silversmithing department of St Lucas School of Arts Antwerp (Studio sieraad) approaches jewelry from the perspective of the relation between the individual and the object. Jewels are not only worn for their decorative qualities but also express how people give shape to their lives. A jewel can function as a social sign, as an expression of human vanity, as a repository of personal memories, or as an artistic means for the maker.
The department pays close attention to jewelry’s underlying purposes and explores its characteristics. By explicitly relating the discipline to social sciences like sociology, theology, material anthropology, or ‘design cultures’, students learn how to establish connections between jewellery and current trends in science, economics, culture, and society.
A complex and fast-changing world needs people that can handle creative processes. To be able to meet this complexity, it is necessary to be independent, to formulate your own positions, and to remain true to yourself. The department is well aware of this reality and that is why it focuses heavily on the development of the students’ identity. We not only impart an attitude of responsibility and an investigative mindset to students, but we also teach them to trust their instincts.
For students to be able to respond appropriately to the issues of our times, the department will confront them with the various facets of the discipline in its entirety. The curriculum is intentionally thematic: a team of permanent lecturers determines the content and organization of the curriculum. Several guest lecturers are also involved in each project, whether practitioners or theorists. Through discussion and dialogue, these lecturers stimulate the students’ learning process; they teach them how to connect theory and practice, whereby students literally acquire the theory ‘in their fingers’.
Each project starts out from a specific context. That can be a target group or a social phenomenon, a collaboration with companies or interaction with other disciplines, or it can proceed from the functional or inherent aspects of jewels.
Acquiring new techniques and handling different materials are also part of a project. Technique and material are indissolubly linked to image and content. Making becomes thinking. In this way students also explore technical aspects from the perspective of content and learn in a short time how to generate ideas and how to realize them.
Students carefully document important stages in the work process by making use of various media such as photography and film. The presentation and documentation of works are developed at length in the conclusion of the project.
Thanks to this thematic methodology, students very naturally link their own design process to different work methods and research strategies. It ultimately involves a ‘total experience’ composed of both reflection and intuition. The training imparts different frameworks, but the student is free to choose. An academic training implies that students find their own criteria and can work independently. This helps develop an open attitude thanks to which graduates can work with others and find their own way in the world.
Piece: 250m Of Curb Chain – Skirt and Shirt, 2018
Silver-plated link chain, textile.
Skirt: 60 x 45 x 1 cm, Shirt: 65 x 85 x 1 cm
Photo by: Sam De Herdt
From series: 250m Of Curb Chain
2018 MA Graduate.
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Piece: 250m Of Curb Chain - Jacket, 2018
Silver-plated link chain, textile.
70 x 90 x 1 cm
Photo by: Sam De Herdt
From series: 250m Of Curb Chain
Detail view
2018 MA Graduate.
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Object: A reliable object - the stamp, 2018
Brass
8 x 1 x 1 cm
Photo by: Manu De Caluwe
2018 MA Graduate.
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Object: A reliable object - the metric seed, 2018
Carob seed, gemstone box, carob wood.
5.2 x 5/2 x 6 cm
Photo by: Manu De Caluwe
2018 MA Graduate.
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Installation: Seeking Shimmer: the Antwerp Diamond District, 2016
Adhesive letters, paper, photoprint.
84.1 x 59.4 cm
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Installation: Blueprint of an Entire Jewellery Collection in 11 pieces, 2016
Paper, blueprint
84.1 x 59.4 cm
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Bracelet: Return, 2016
Wood, lasercut, brass.
20 x 10 x 5 cm
Photo by: Fan Wang
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Necklace: Return, 2016
Wood, lasercut.
50 x 25 x 20 cm
Photo by: Fan Wang
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Body piece: Shi-gan, 2016
Paper
22 x 9 x 4 cm
From series: The passage of time
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Body piece: Shi-gan, 2016
Paper
22 x 9 x 4 cm
From series: The passage of time
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Body piece: VUCA, 2016
Copper, suction cups.
45 x 15 x 2 cm
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Head Piece: VUCA, 2016
Plastics.
20 x 15 x 13 cm
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Object: As we ever see but do not observe, 2014
Latex
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Print: As we ever see but do not observe, 2014
Paper
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Eline Willemarck
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
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Bracelet: Nine bracelets, 2013
Various clasps
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Charlotte Van de Velde
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
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Object: All My Homes. Muggenberglei, 2014
Concrete
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Saskia Van der Gucht
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
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Object: Study, 2013
Brick, jewellery packaging
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Print: True fakes print, 2014
Printed paper
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Octave Van de Weghe
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
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Piece: Reflection of the inner soul Facetted fox, 2014
Photographic print on aluminum
Mask
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Piece: Reflection of the inner soul Blurred nightlife, 2014
Photographic print on aluminum
Mask
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Piece: Reflection of the inner soul Iris, 2014
Photographic print on aluminum
Mask
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Sandra Buyck
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
Master graduation show 2014
Photograph by: Roger Laute
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Photograph: Collecting, 2013
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Piece: Medallion, 2013
Box with hidden gems
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Necklace: Collecting, 2013
Diverse materials
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
- Website St. Lucas Antwerp
- Website Jewellery Department
- Facebook St. Lucas Antwerp
- Instagram St. Lucas Antwerp
- Vimeo St. Lucas Antwerp
- Mail:
- ludovik.colpaert
kdg.be
- Management:
- Ludovik Colpaert
-
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