Images of 'Above Earth, Below Sea'

Follow this link and and this link to images of 'Above Earth, Below Sea' uploaded by Paper Plane Gallery. Includes images of the opening and of our work. (Image: Lucy Ainsworth)

Interviews at Paper Plane

Follow this link to an interview by Georgie Payne-Loy with Michelle Genders & Rui Kikuchi about 'Above Earth, Below Sea' at Paper Plane Gallery.

Follow this link to an article in the Inner West Courier about the exhibition.

Invitation

Itami College of Jewellery blog

See a Japanese version of the exhibition information here at the Itami College of Jewellery blog.

Sydney Design website

Check out the general Sydney Design website here. Check out the specific page for 'Above Earth, Below Sea' here.

'Old is new again' Sydney Design 2011

The aims of the exhibition coincides with the theme of Sydney Design 2011 'Old is new again' in several ways:

* Exploration of jewellery as art – continuing recent developments by jewellery practitioners to overcome the boundaries of art and craft presentation by making a shift to the human body as a site for art, whilst small scale crafted objects are arranged to create an installation;

* Rethinking the way we use and value material – exploring how material can have a specific purpose and meaning for the maker. Materials that were not considered for their decorative value in wider society are continuously discovered and reworked. The notion of value in jewellery is also shifting towards a story being told by the maker, and not just the market value of the material;

* Reworking techniques – whereby makers reinvent techniques to cater to their personal story. Whilst employing fundamental techniques that are following on from a long history of making, these processes are challenging conventions and traditions of jewellery making, and;

* Connecting with audiences and consumers through direct communication of a personal concept and story that is not impeded by conventions of value and the market.

Above Earth, Below Sea - Exhibition theme

We are a group of Australian and Japanese artists who have made contemporary jewellery and objects that respond to the theme 'Above Earth, Below Sea'. The exhibition was conceived and planned in January 2011. We aimed to create a fanciful space and hoped that viewers would respond immediately with delight.

The original call out included this poem:
Objects originating deep in the ocean encircled by water or discovered high in the air above the earth. Exotic spaces more accessible by modern technology … rocket or scuba tank, blimp or submarine.

Places visited whilst on an adventure. A holiday to a new destination or wandering in your own imagination … an extraordinary experience.

Escape from the urban environment for spare time to play and relax. Feeling the elements on your skin and attending to details of the world you inhabit ... a sudden feeling of awe.

All of the artists responded immediately and enthusiastically to the opportunity to collaborate and express their stories of the way they relate to nature. We are neighbours from island nations where these natural environments play a role in our consciousness and thus aesthetics.

The artist’s statements indicate varying approaches to the theme. Some works are close to the home, arising from personal encounters and curious investigation of the miniature. Others are inspired by worlds further away than they can access or connection with something much larger than themselves.

In March 2011 Japan experienced an earthquake and tsunami. This has had a subtle effect on the work made. We began with a more idealised view and have now seen, first hand in person or second hand via the media, how nature can impact on humanity. In the tsunami region, human detritus remains but nature is regrowing and inspires hope in those who have lost possessions.

TeN

TeN will be visiting from Japan and performing her original songs on opening night. See a clip that features her here. Hear 'A Hundred Birds Orchestra' featuring TeN here.

Biography
1977 Born in Hyogo, Japan.
Singer/artist. Feature artist for dance orchestra A Hundred Birds in Osaka, Japan.
TeN released her first original solo album "High Low" in 2009 and is a regular performer at major music festivals including Fuji Rock, Rising Sun Festival and Asagiri Jam, as well as gigs throughout Japan.

Discography
TeN solo albums
2008
Sayonara-no-mukogawa/ 6 feat.TeN (Excite Music, Pinklife/ Japan)
2009
High low/ TeN (Village Again/ Japan)

With A Hundred Birds
1997
Sun That Shine/ A Hundred Birds feat.TeN (Styling rec./ Japan) Single
2000
Batonga/ A Hundred Birds feat.TeN (Wave Music/ New York) Single
2003
Georgia/ A Hundred Birds feat.TeN (Wave Music/ New York) Single
2005
Fly From The Tree/ A Hundred Birds (For life music, GUT/ Japan) Full Album
2006
In the sky/ A Hundred Birds feat. TeN (For life music, GUT/ Japan) Mini Album
Sweet lullaby/ A Hundred Birds feat. TeN (For life music, GUT/ Japan) Single
Free/ A Hundred Birds feat. TeN (For life music, GUT/ Japan) Single
Fellin' your bright light/ A Hundred Birds feat. TeN (For life music, GUT/ Japan) EP

Kate Brown with Sandra LaRocca

Kate is based in Sydney and will be performing her original songs with Sandra on the opening night. Listen to Kate's music here.

Satoshi Nakamura

Artist statement
“Above Earth, Below Sea”
From these words,
I imagined an energy that envelopes the whole universe and
I thought, the energy as yet undiscovered is actually a very simple thing
A structure of our emotion.

I express with the red brooch "joy";
with the second purple brooch "peace";
with the third transparent brooch "divine" and
with the fourth yellow brooch "passion".

Each brooch consist of 12 parts.
This number is a key to the riddle of the elements of the universe - the moon, guardian angels, animals of the Chinese horoscope…

Biography
Satoshi was born in Hyogo, Japan in 1970 and is living there now. He studied at the Itami College of Jewellery Japan. After graduating from Hochschule Pforzheim in Germany in 2010, he continued to develop his works mostly with computer. He has exhibited in Germany and Japan. In 2007 he won the Gottlob Frick Medal in Germany. Satoshi tries to make works where the viewer can enjoy both two and three dimensional aspects.

Taisuke Nakada

Artist statement
Many stars wink in the sky, many lives shine in the sea.
We lives with are nestled in the sky and the sea.
If I am in the dark and I am small,
I would like to shine like a star in the sky and like a life that is nurtured by the sea.

Biography
2004.3 Graduated from Hiko Mizuno college of Jewelry
2004.4 Worked at jewelry & watch repair company
2005.6 Worked at shed factory as a dispatch employee
2007.7 Went abroad to study in Italy
2007.10 Admitted to Le Arti Orafe
2008.7 Graduated from Le Arti Orafe.
Participation
2009.2 Inhorgenta Europe 2009, Munich, Germany
2010.2 Inhorgenta Europe 2010, Munich, Germany
2010.9 YOYA Barcelona 2010, Barcelona, Spain
Awards
2009.2 Won a prize in Inhorgenta Europe 2009 Innovation Award

Visit Taisuke's website for more information.

Alison Mckellar

Artist statement
In exploring the theme Above Earth, Below Sea what became apparent was the concept that our universe, our existence is a woven, interconnected system of cycles movement and rhythm.

Controlled, aided by the our external solar system what exists within our biosphere is a law of attraction and what follows is a pattern of perpetual phases whilst to vast to name a majority consists of the following; filtration, adaptation, transformation, migration, depletion, interference, degradation and regeneration.

The objects constructed will be reflecting upon the bionetworks dependency on these natural earth cycles as well as highlighting the intervention of humanities progression and possible effects.

Biography
Born in Tasmania Alison Mckellar began first designing and creating jewellery which was privately distributed as well as teaching and promoting jewellery making classes to both children and adults. She co-established a programme “Not Junk” a school holiday programme at the willow court community centre designed for children aged 8 to 12 where all the materials were created from reclaimed objects.

The following year Alison moved to Sydney to further her study in this field at the Sydney College of the Arts exhibiting at GAFFA in 2009 and is now a recent graduate. Currently located in Tasmania she is working from a co-op studio in Hobart and hopes to further her studies in the near future overseas.

Visit Alison's website for more information.

Saori Kita

Artist statement
My practice revolves around observations of the natural world and the transience of nature. My desire is to capture its beauty through the process of working, using traditional casting techniques combined with natural forms to make an intimate form of stone setting.

I make work with an awareness of the Japanese concept of ‘Chowa’, which means mind, heart and hands. Finding balance between beauty and imperfection, I work very intuitively to let the material direct me to the next destination.

Each piece is the opening of a new chapter telling the story of the next form; I have tried to capture this transformation and journey in my work for Above Earth, Below Sea. But to capture nature is an impossible act because the beauty of seasons is that they are always changing.

Biography
Saori has been completing Honours in Jewellery and Object this year at Sydney College of the Arts. Saori’s work captures an irrepressible love of nature, re-articulating the raw botanical textures and structures into metal work, echoing natures essential forms and textures.

Since last year, she has been exhibiting her works around Australia, such as “Profile 10” at the JMGA Conference in Perth as well as "Utility" at Sydney College of the Arts. She was also a part of “Winter Neckpieces” and "The Exchange" at Studio 20/17. Additionally Saori exhibited in “Contemporary Australian Silver & Metalwork” at Buda Historic Home and Garden in Melbourne this year. She also stocks her series of production lines at Studio 20/17 in Waterloo, Sydney.

Visit Saori's website for more information.

Rui Kikuchi

Artist statement
In manipulating an abundant material in the human world, such as the PET bottle, my aim is to consider the mundane object and recognise beauty within it. In extending our humility to see a value in these materials, my hope is that we reduce the nonchalant use of goods and that can lead us to experience wonder in the everyday.

All works were created during 2010 and 2011 and are made from PET (polyethylene teraphthalate) disposable beverage bottles and silver and are coloured using synthetic fabric dyes.

Biography
Rui Kikuchi was born in the Japanese city of Kyoto in 1982. She moved to Sydney with her family in 1988 and spent her formative years in Australia.

In 2003 she graduated from the University of Sydney's Sydney College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Visual Arts, majoring in Object Art and Design. After completing her degree Rui returned to Japan and attended the Itami College of Jewellery in Hyogo Prefecture in 2007.

Since 2007 she has exhibited widely mainly in Australia and Japan through solo and groups shows and competitions.

Visit Rui's website for more information.

Janny Huang

Artist statement
“Colors of the silence from my backyard”
The theme of my work has always been about nature. Especially what I observe simply in my back yard. The seeds, the leaves, the growth of the living after rain and the smell of them all. Mostly I love the silence during my observation which brings me inspiration. To me this silence links with colours, the colours of nature. I would like to present it through the material of recycled paper (milk carton) mixed with felt and metal materials such as silver and cooper. I hope you find love in them. Have Fun!

Biography
Janny Huang was born 1972.
She spent her childhood till 15 in the South part of Taiwan in a city called Kaohsiung. Her family immigrated to Brisbane in the year of 1988 where I eventually finished my education in 1992 by graduating from Queensland University majoring BA Japanese.

From 1995 to 1997 Janny joined Cathay Pacific Airways as a flight attendent. During this period she had the chance to go around the world and see the differences. After working for 3 years, she married her Japanese husband and moved to West Japan in 1998. It has becomed Janny's home town now after living there everyday for 13 years.

Janny started to learn silver smithing right after moving to Japan. It was just a plain coincidence browsing through the yellow pages and she found a class for making silver accessories. Since then she has never stopped working with metals and still it amazes Janny even today!

In 2007 she stared my own brand 'lilajne'. In 2011 April , Janny turned back to the starting line and decided to go to a one year course in Itami Jewellry College. By starting at zero again, she found freedom and peace.

Visit Janny's website for more information.

Michelle Genders

Artist statement
I'm a curious artist, so experimentation is the underlying method of my practice. I've used enduring and ephemeral materials to generate gestural and expressive work. The process is labour intensive but simple solutions are chosen.

I visit the sea and sky to be immersed in sensation and only aware of the moment. I visit whilst on an adventure and out of my comfort zone. Echoing the wonder and hesitation felt during encounters in these spaces, my objects are fantastic and whimsical. They also betray ecological concerns with plastic in the sea, bleaching of coral reefs and potential of solar power.

Biography
Michelle is from New South Wales, Australia. From 2006-2009 she undertook a Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours-Jewellery and Object) at Sydney College of the Arts. Her work was included in annual Utility exhibitions in 2007, 2008 and 2009. With fellow students, she organized group shows 'Cave' (2007), 'Thought Process' (2008) and 'Objectionable Intentions' (2009).

Since completing her studies, Michelle has maintained a regular practice. She has participated in a number of exhibitions nationally including 'The Exchange Project', 'Graduate Metal 12', 'Flight' and ‘Awareness Muscle’. From June to December she will resident at Firstdraft Depot Affordable Studios.

Visit Michelle's website for more information.

Michelle Batten

Artist statement
I imagine most people are hit by the sublime when they gaze up at the Milky Way on a clear winter night. The tiny points of light that fill the sky evoke many feelings of awe and insignificance, but also a fondness. After all we are made up of the elements that make the stars shine. As Sagan said, we are made of star stuff.

The way the cosmos is illuminated fascinates me. These lights in the sky have the potential to create colour and life against the blackness of space. A vacuum that is cold, vast and unforgiving. This contrast seen in the sky is what inspired me to create these objects. Black and white. Hot and cold. Life and nothing.

Biography
Michelle Batten is a recent graduate from Sydney College of the Arts, having gone through the Jewellery and Object Design studio. She now works from her home workshop in Newcastle, creating wearable pieces that reflect upon her interests.

Fascinated by astronomy and all things related to outer space, Michelle creates small geometric jewellery pieces that give reference to both the science and science fiction based around our perceptions of the cosmos. She adds an imperfect handmade element to the strict lines seen in geometry, which is inspired by the hand drawn sketches of Renaissance astronomers and astrologers.

Visit Michelle's website for more information.