Alex Kinsley Vey
Jeweller
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Published: 28.09.2022
Alex Kinsley Vey
- Mail:
- infoalexkinsley.com
Bio
Alex Kinsley Vey is originally from Hamilton, O.N. where he received jewellery training from his parents. Moving to Toronto in 2010 Alex studied jewellery at George Brown College, receiving a Adv. Diploma in Jewellery Arts in 2013. He has shown work in Canada, Europe, and the United States. He has been a member of Craft Ontario since 2012 and was accepted into Harbourfront Centre’s Artist-in-Residence program in 2015. Currently a sessional instructor at OCAD University in Toronto, and has previously taught at George Brown College in Toronto, and NSCAD University in Halifax.Statement
>>The Third Death'There are three deaths. The first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time.' – David M. Eagleman
The Third Death came from a personal place of regret, never getting to know my Opa before his passing in 2012. This series of photographic brooches is an attempt to extend his ‘Third Death’. His name is Oscar “Rene” Franz Ludwig Vey. From his childhood in Nurnberg during the Second World War, to his journey to Canada and his work in the metalworker’s union movement in London, Ontario. These fragments of his life are all that are left behind.
I etch these photos from paper onto steel, a material that unites us both (him as a caster and moulder, me growing up in the shadow of the steel mills of my hometown) and lasts much longer than the paper and acetate originals. However, everything decays; the rust gives us a glimpse into that future. Entropy is a constant. Nothing lasts forever.
>>Iron Identity
We are products of our environments, shaped and changed by the places we call home.
Iron Identity explores my personal and cultural identity defined by the particular environment I grew up in. This identity is intimately entwined with the place itself. Rust, corrosion, a sense of neglect, the commemoration of a fading legacy, and the ability to endure are the concepts and visual language I express in my work.
Hamilton, my home on the shore of Lake Ontario has traditionally been a steel producing centre. Despite the industry having died down in recent decades, its industrial activity is still apparent. Iron Identity references my time growing up there, and the impact this place had on me. The culture of Hamilton was rough, the attitude grimy, and those characteristics greatly influenced me. Baseball bats, Metal shows and bus fights all existed alongside the backdrop of heavy industry. The working-class ethos and attitudes of my hometown shaped me into who I am today – for better or worse.
Alex Kinsley Vey
- Mail:
- infoalexkinsley.com
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