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Floor Max

Jeweller
Published: 27.07.2020

Bio

Floor Max is a Dutch artist living and working in Enkhuizen, a small town in the north of Holland. Max graduated with a BA architectural design, specialisation jewellery, from the Hogeschool  voor de Kunsten Utrecht, The Netherlands.  For almost 25 years she is designing and constructing jewellery collections, which she presents in galleries and exhibitions. 

Statement

In my atelier, I manufacture jewellery, either unique pieces or larger series. Every single piece has its own story.
Everything I make takes shape in a playful way originating from my great curiosity and with the help of countless experiments.
Subsequently, my work is a translation of my thoughts, impressions and experiences.  A poetic embrace of surprise and wonder.
My work is characterized by my love for (silver) wire and other flexible materials. I continuously search for the boundary between strength and vulnerability. With these seemingly breakable 
compounds, I create both literally and figuratively strong jewellery and accessories. Besides the use of the more commonly known goldsmith techniques I also use textile techniques while processing various kinds of metal. These techniques may include crochet, knitting, weaving and embroidery. I find this particular way of forming connections virtually challenging as they tend to form a logical structure and remain relatively transparent. With the best of both worlds, I am able to create clear and delicate pieces
My 
jewellery is made in a traditional way which makes it labour-intensive. This greatly increases the intrinsic value of my work and in addition creates a connection with the viewer, buyer and wearer of my jewellery.
Besides the designing and creating of 
jewellery and accessories I also make graphics and photographs. Other activities might include designing and making the concept for an exhibition.

Hexagoon
The hexagon is the primary building block in Floor Max’s work. Several years ago she found an abandoned wasps’ nest and was fascinated by its construction: I was struck by how strong and yet delicate it was, how sturdy and simultaneously fragile. It was the hexagonal honeycomb structure that was responsible for the strength of that nest, which was built of a wafer-thin natural material, like paper. Floor subsequently observed hexagons in all kinds of architecture: in the floorplans, decorations and windows of Christian, Jewish and Islamic buildings. So it is not hard to see Moorish tiled floors from Granada in her brooches, mosques in her rings or cathedral domes in her necklaces.
For me the hexagon represents the connection of different people and cultures, of different histories and narratives, Floor Max explains. She also connects a range of materials in her pieces, such as silver, copper, felt and leather.

 

CV      View / hide description

Events      View / hide events

2023:
Exhibition  29 Jun 2023 - 09 Jul 2023  Carry me. Galerie Door at Stevenskerk Nijmegen.
2020:
Exhibition  08 Aug 2020 - 06 Sep 2020  ArtWear.
Exhibition  11 Jul 2020 - 05 Sep 2020  20th Anniversary of Cecile van Eeden Jewellery.
2019:
Exhibition  23 Nov 2019 - 21 Dec 2019  Final Parade.
Exhibition  20 Sep 2019 - 23 Oct 2019  The Strength of Textile, Jewelry in Madrid.
Exhibition  29 Jun 2019 - 31 Aug 2019  The Strength of Textile, Jewelry in Porto.
Exhibition  04 May 2019 - 01 Jun 2019  The Strength of Textile, Jewelry in Neuchâtel.
Exhibition  08 Mar 2019 - 12 Apr 2019  The Strength of Textile, Jewelry.
2018:
Exhibition  08 Mar 2018 - 13 Apr 2018  Dialogues from the Netherlands in Barcelona.
Exhibition  07 Mar 2018 - 13 Mar 2018  Galerie Ra at Frame 2018.
Exhibition  26 Jan 2018 - 24 Feb 2018  Dialogues from the Netherlands in Madrid.
2017:
Exhibition  19 Oct 2017 - 18 Nov 2017  Dialogues from the Netherlands in Switzerland.
Exhibition  17 Sep 2017 - 28 Oct 2017  Make a Statement with a Brooch.
Exhibition  16 Jun 2017 - 28 Jul 2017  Dialogues from the Netherlands.
Exhibition  26 Mar 2017 - 21 May 2017  Waanzinnige Sier.
CODA museum Apeldoorn, the Netherlands
2016:
Exhibition  15 Oct 2016 - 10 Dec 2016  Ra Now.
2015:
Exhibition  20 Jun 2015 - 25 Jul 2015  Hexagoon by Floor Max.
2008:
Exhibition  04 Oct 2008 - 05 Nov 2008  Beaten, pressed, melted.