Margo Nelissen

Statement

About her Series Hidden
What interests me mostly is how people interact and show (or don’t show) their motivations, secrets and scars. People wear masks to protect themselves and not feel vulnerable.  How to connect if you don’t open up. The collection HIDDEN exists of pieces of jewelry that have a clear inside and outside. The outside is like a protective shield, sometimes prickly and it doesn’t give away easily what’s inside. The wearer can choose how to wear the pieces and communicate; do I like to show myself, am I selfconfident or do I feel I need to be protected?

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On Margo Nelissen work
During her career Margo Nelissen has designed several collections. The first jewels from the 1980s are the result of studying and applying ancient textile techniques in metal wire. These applications prove to be inexhaustible. Margo constructs golden earrings from minuscule weaving and knitting work to robust yet airy iron and copper necklaces. The inspiration for the designs arises from her admiration of African ways of adornment and the symbolic meanings jewelry can have. Also historic motives are a great source of inspiration for her.
 
Over the years Margo experimented with new techniques to allow for her new forms of expression. She has created cast collections, collections consisting of natural material and for example a collection in which glass splinters are used. Since her stay in the Caribbean from 2010 to 2013, her interest shifted to nature. Her amazement about the Caribbean underwater world and tropical plants and seeds led to a whole new visual language in her jewelry.  

A new environment has had a great impact on the art of Margo Nelissen. She moved from The Netherlands to another part of the world, the Caribbean. This three year stay in the tropics let to different collections; Secret Garden inspired by her tropical garden and the abundant rainforest of South America, Coral Flowering inspired by patterns and shapes of coral and Curaçao Memoriesinspired by the island itself, its rough nature in contrast to its sparkling culture.
 
Characteristic for all her work is the refinement and detail, even in robust big pieces.
 

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