Elisabeth J. Gu. Defner. Man, Nature, Cosmos. Jewellery and Objects

Elisabeth J. Gu. Defner – Jewellery in the Exciting Interplay of Man, Nature and Cosmos 

‘Truly art is firmly fixed in Nature. He who can extract her thence, he alone has her.’
(Albrecht Dürer) 

‚Nature is rather an eternal mentor than an opponent. I do not think we can contrive something which does not already exist.’
(Elisabeth J. Gu. Defner) 

For Elisabeth Defner (who since 1990 has borne the additional names Jesus Guennaibim) jewellery is not merely a matter of aesthetics. According to her approach it also has the potential to positively bolster people, to charge their bodies with energy. Therefore searching out natural forms and researching their legitimacy has become the foundation of her creative work. Consequently, the entire multitude of forms of leaves, shells, wood, skulls or feathers are found in her jewellery pieces and objects. 

In a holistic vision, the energy radiating from metals and stones lay in harmony with the forms of the jewellery and can effect an inner transformation of the wearer. In so doing, brooches, ear jewellery, rings or pendants can be combined with cast forms of gingko leaves, whereby the jewellery’s beauty enters into an idealistic bond with the magical effect of plants. Defner’s magnetic jewellery or her small sculptures out of various materials, which she calls ‘magic wands’, are understood within the context of active forces of nature: the common thread of her work is always the relationship of man –
nature – cosmos. 

Since the 1960s, Elisabeth Defner has ranked among the most prolific jewellery artists in Austria. After studying at the Viennese Academy for the Applied Arts at the beginning of the 1960s she has worked ever since as an independent
artist in Vienna. She headed the department for craftwork at the company Österreichische Werkstätten and until 1976 led a workshop community with Helfried Kodré. Honoured with the Bavarian State Award in Munich in 1967 and distinguished with the Diamond Award in 1970, her works are represented today in museums including in Vienna, Graz, Pforzheim,
Cologne, Prague and London.


With contributions from Reinhard Gutmann, Margit Hart, Adolf Holl, Desirée Müller, Birgit Wiesinger and an interview with Christian Beaufort-Spontin and Sylvia Ferino-Pagden