Elizabeth Shaw

Statement

I am interested in the societal and cultural values that are reflected in the objects we surround ourselves with. I particularly like jewellery for its rich history, its portability and its close association with the wearer and its role in communicating to the viewer. I am intrigued by how quickly something that was once valued can become ‘valueless’. A collected or found broken part of an object destined for or retrieved from landfill is quite often the starting point for my work. These ‘unvalued’ parts bring with them a history and I construct around them to embellish their story through additions. I draw on an aesthetic of repair and value honesty in materials.  Ethical and environmental concerns are central to my studio practice and these inform how I approach my work.
 

CV