Abstract

Abstract:

This research report is an investigation on the use of organic contemporary jewellery as metaphoric interpretations of my personal experiences. The purpose of this report is to show how I use nature as a reference or as an inspiration to create contemporary jewellery pieces that are metaphoric to the aspects of my life.

The research behind this report is based on the means of self-conducted action research. This form of research involves planning, action, observation and reflection. The planning behind this research report is discussed in chapters one and two. The final jewellery pieces, their observations and reflections are discussed in chapter three.

Chapter one consists of paragraphs describing: the functions of jewellery, the positions of jewellery, contemporary jewellery, organic jewellery, movement jewellery, symbolism and metaphor. All of these topics are useful in defining the research topic.

Chapter two consists of paragraphs that discuss jewellers who have made contemporary jewellery pieces relating to metaphor and/or organic jewellery. These jewellers include: Beth Legg, Kelly Jean Conroy, Helen Shirk, Victoria Walker and Sharon Church.

Chapter three discussed the jewellery pieces that I have made, that were inspired by plants and flowers. Here I discuss the processes behind their construction, their materials as well as their meanings in terms of metaphor.

Sabrina Behr headpiece

Golden Flower Crown

I recently came across this image while browsing Pinterest. The image below shows a bridal headpiece designed under the brand, Jennifer Behr. It shows a headpiece in an unknown metal that is made to resemble "an organic golden flower crown" (Behr, n.d.).

Headpiece by Jennifer Behr

Recently, I have been interested in bridal jewellery and I have been wanting to bring out a bridal collection where I apply the skills that I have learned in the creation of contemporary to a collection that consists of wearable and sellable pieces. I think that possibly making bridal flower crowns or bridal jewellery in the future will allow me to continue exploring organic jewellery and the use of plants and flowers in a realistic way. 

Final Realizations

Realizations

I have thoroughly enjoyed creating organic contemporary jewellery pieces throughout my research. Upon starting my research, I felt overwhelmed by directing my own research, but over the course of the journey, I learned new skills that helped me to produce my body of work. After completing this research report, I came to the realization that the skills that I have learned throughout my research have come to me through the processes of exploring, planning, creating prototypes, observation and reflection. These skills were useful in the creation of organic contemporary jewellery pieces and in future I will continue to apply these skills in the creation of wearable and sellable pieces. Although this is the end of my research journey, I feel that there is more left to explore in the field of organic jewellery as well as contemporary jewellery. This journey has only awakened my interest in using plants and flowers as inspiration of my pieces and I wish to continue using these elements in the creation of my jewellery.

Conclusion Chapter 3

Concluding Chapter 3

I thoroughly enjoyed creating the jewellery pieces shown above. During construction, each of them had their own challenges, however, in conquering these challenges; I was able to learn new techniques that I can use in future jewellery pieces and in the creation of wearable pieces designed for customers. Completing this chapter and the body of work within has allowed me to come up with many new ideas for future pieces, contemporary and wearable studio pieces. In future, I would like to let the new skills that I have learned during my research roll-over into my personal work in the development of my handmade jewellery business and brand.

In addition, freewriting about my jewellery has allowed me to channel my inner thoughts and emotions so that I am able to put them into words on paper. By creating descriptive poems; through the extraction of key words from these free writings; has helped me to understand the meanings behind my metaphoric jewellery pieces.

Conclusion Chapter 2

Concluding Chapter 2

Throughout this chapter, I have learned about several jewellery artists that create organic contemporary jewellery. Most of the artists that I have looked at use their jewellery as a form of metaphor or self-representation and they have looked at the natural world for inspiration. Although these artists exhibit different characteristics that I would like to reflect on my own work, each of them have unique methods, techniques and styles in which their jewellery is created. I have looked at their unique characteristics to aid me in developing my own style of jewellery.

Conclusion Chapter 1

Concluding Chapter 1

During this chapter, I have learned that ‘contemporary jewellery’ is a vast field of jewellery design. I have attempted to describe the definitions of contemporary jewellery that will form the understanding behind the body of work I am producing in relation with my working title: “Using Organic Contemporary Jewellery as Metaphoric Interpretations of Personal Experiences”. I have discussed that contemporary jewellery; relating to my area of interest; echoes nature, functions as forms of spiritual mediation and takes on the position to express a message or metaphor.

Orchids

Orchids

Now that I have almost finished the writings of my Btech research report, I decided to start working on a pair of earrings that I have always wanted to try out using my favourite type of flower, the Orchid. They always seem so graceful in the way that that they bloom from tiny spheres, they rupture into beautiful flowers. The inspiration for this piece came from the orchid that started blooming in my garden. I never thought that it would bloom as the plant looked dry and withered. Below is an image of the orchid blooming in my garden:

The image below shows the templates of the orchids that I have been piercing out: