A Theory of Structure, Poise, and Transcendence
jewelry set: chest cuff, brooch, and modular ring
scrap metal, metal dust detritus, sterling silver, spray paint, and skin
2024
Made through a process of layered self-portraiture, the piece began with mirror-finish scrap metal. I, then, engraved self-portraits of the distortions of my face made by the metal. I sawed out the motifs of my chest tattoo to act as another layer of self-portraiture while allowing the sheets to be reconstructed. After reconstruction, the piece was spray painted a shade of fleshy pink as to me pink is a symbol of both the physical body and reconfiguration of self. Pink eludes to flesh while relating to androgyny and undulating gender with the complex histories of pink as a gendered symbol. At this stage, the original self-portraits were re-engraved and i stamped my skin into the wet paint for yet another layer of portraiture. Finally, the accompanying brooch was cast from the metal dust made from the process of making the cuff as a symbol of the cycle of reconfiguration of the body continuing once again.
This piece is all about an undulating body: the turning over of skin, one’s understanding of their self changing, and the history stored inside all of our skin.