silver vessel | Eileen Moylan

I’m finally getting around to telling you all about the Mindful of Silver exhibition which is currently running at Goldsmiths Hall, London.

This show curated by Julie Chamberlain invited twelve silversmiths to keep all the material produced during the process of designing and making a vessel. This material including sketches, photographs and models was then exhibited alongside the finished piece. The result is a really interesting combination of beautiful silver items displayed alongside tea stained sketches and roughly done models.

I loved the idea for this exhibition. I invariably look at silver items wondering how they were made and what influenced the aesthetic. With this work I still looked at the process and the techniques used in the final piece but now there was an exhibit of research work which begins a whole new dialogue with each piece. This informs another dimension of the work, both the concepts and silversmithing techniques. So the show becomes about the intellectual process rather than the finished object. For the curator this is fundamental, here she discusses her dislike of the word inspiration!

as if the final object had just pinged in out of nowhere. Intellectual development takes as long as the making.

It really enhances the work to see the starting point of the artist, some of which begin with the concept and other the techniques. The show’s name ‘Mindful of Silver’ also informs this idea, this marring of ideas and concepts with a respect for the silver as a material.

Some criticism of the exhibition has been that certain artists have not produced innovative final products or have not pushed themselves to fully explore the concept of the show. It has also been said that they have not been entirely honest in their supporting materials, which may have been edited and enhanced retrospectively. Whether any of these statements are true or not, it doesn’t take from the overall idea of the show. Silversmiths work is often just appreciated for the ‘making’ time and the material costs. It’s refreshing to see a show that highlights the concept and developmental work behind these silver objects.

I had great intentions of taking lots of photos but they don’t allow cameras so here are some of the catalogue pictures.

Becoming Spherical I and II, Silver, Lucian Taylor

I wrote about the work of Lucian Taylor last week. Click here to read that article.

David Clarke displayed a number of manipulated antique silver spoons. This humorous collection is informed by a number of models, drawings and photocopies which explore the the forms and how they can be pushed and exaggerated.

Sarah Denny‘s hand raised vessels evolve from a series of sketches which explore each stage of the hand raising process. Her work is influenced by forms in nature such as vegetables which she photographs and then draws over to explore the shapes and curves.

Theresa Nguyen’s work is also influenced by nature. Her preparatory work includes sketches and models of leaves, focusing on form and movement, in particular the overlapping patterns.

I came across the work of Misun Won this week. She is a Scottish based jeweller that draws her inspiration from Korean patchwork. Misun Won has studied the unique compositional arrangements of the patchwork to develop her own complex technique of bending and folding silver sheet.

As well as influencing the aesthetic, Misum Won also plays on the symbolism of these patchwork cloths in Korean culture.

patchwork cloths were developed as a means of wrapping an object or food in a careful and respectful way.

This type of patchwork known as Jogakboo was develpoed in the Joseon dynasty as fabric was scarce so women collected scraps to sew together. I wrote a post last year about the Joseon Dynasty and their use of silver spoons in detecting poison. Click here to read it!

While the majority of her work is jewellery based she has done these beautiful small silver vessels on the same patchwork theme. I love the contrast between the polished smooth forms and the busy folded detail. These patchworks of circles and patterns all come from a single sheet of metal which is manipulated to create the three dimensional form. When I first saw her work I presumed the circles had been laser cut and she would then bend the pieces into shape. It was only when I watched a video of her working that I realised she cut each section by hand! Click here if you want to see the video.

Her more recent work introduces colour and other elements such as pearls and silk to her jewellery. I’m now subscribed to her blog so I can see lots more of these silver patchworks.