This is a subscriber-only article
The Bounded + Unlimited exhibition at the National Design and Craft Gallery is the first of its kind, bringing Irish and Chinese jewellery designers together for one thought-provoking show.
Eimear Conyard is one of the Irish jewellery artists taking part, and she is also the Jewellery and Goldsmithing Course Director at Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. Here, she shares an insight into her creative process and why it is crucial to explore and appreciate design in different cultures.
Eimear, what does the exhibition involve?
“Bounded + Unlimited is a contemporary jewellery and goldsmithing exhibition which explores the parallel working practices of two Irish and two Chinese jewellery artists – in design, techniques and materials, and from the perspective of differing cultural contexts.”
You designed a series of neck pieces and also a series of sculptural vessels. Where did you get your inspiration?
“Initially, the first neckpiece in the series was inspired by the Bronze Age Gold collection, Ór in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin. This one piece sparked a whole series of neckpieces in a variety of materials from silver to 18ct and 24ct gold with pearls, diamonds, and acrylic. Also, I started to combine a Korean technique called Keum boo of fusing pure gold onto the surface of silver to introduce pattern and textures into my work. The series of sculptural vessels have combined the materials and techniques used in my neck pieces but are purely sculptural decorative objects.”
What was it like to design these unique pieces of jewellery?
“You have to always keep in mind how the piece will sit on the body and this in some cases can interfere with the design process or at least throw up major design challenges. Sometimes these challenges can add to the design like, for instance, the hidden magnetic clasp on my neckpieces. Clasps and catches are usually hidden but, in this case, I have chosen to make a feature out of it. As one develops in their making skills and design process they develop their own signature style and even though the neckpieces and sculptural vessels are quite different in design, I think you can still identify my hand in the finished pieces.”
What do you think of the other pieces in the exhibition?
“The series of rings designed by Rudolf and Christopher Heltzel displayed in Bounded + Unlimited marks a new era for their company and it has been a pleasure to work alongside them over the last number of months. The work of Binyu Chen and Hu Jun, who are both from Beijing and lecture at leading Chinese universities, shows a diversity in approach and use of materials like Chinese Lacquer work and precious metals. I think our collaboration with these Chinese artists will have a positive impact on our own creative process.”
What is next for the project?
“We hope it will create interest in both countries that will be favourable to future collaborative exchange projects between Chinese and Irish jewellery artists and educators. The next phase of this cultural exchange is that Christopher Heltzel and I will travel to Beijing and Shanghai with our work in May 2018.”
The Bounded + Unlimited exhibition runs until 18 April | www.ndcg.ie
SHARING OPTIONS: