Crafts Council Collections Online
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2017.12
Curvature (2017.12)
Catalogue Record
Collection
Maker
Ute Decker
Title
Curvature
Made in
London
Date
2009
Materials and techniques
Arm piece made of 100% recycled silver which was sourced from Capella Refinery who was also the very first refinery in 2011 in the world to refine Fairtrade Gold. It was sand textured by rolling mill. The initial shaping of the work was done around mandrel and then free-formed by hand. It also has burnished edges.
Dimensions
length: 27cm
width: 14cm
depth: 17cm
Object number
2017.12
Category
Credit
Gifted to Crafts Council by Tuan Lee.
Maker's statement
This piece was created for my first public exhibition. At the time jewellery was my private passion - it was this first exhibition which brought about my career change and led to me setting up a full time studio.
With a degree in Political Economics, jewellery was a private passion for many years. Predominantly self-taught with numerous evening classes since the 90's I have been making jewellery only for myself and close friends.
Then I was invited to take part in this group show during London Jewellery Week. At this first exhibition, to my astonishment, I won an award, received press coverage and most pieces sold quickly and a couple of collectors brought my work including Tuan Lee who bought this arm piece together with several other pieces.
I only ever intended to make jewellery just for myself. With this amazing response at this first exhibition, I thought...how wonderful, this feels rather nice...maybe I'll take part in one more exhibition...that was in 2009...
I am grateful to all those who showed their support, bought and featured my work at the very beginning.
Overall, I am drawn to the minimalist philosophy and aesthetic of Zen, especially calligraphy as well as the expressive archaic forms of tribal arts.
I don't work conceptually. Rarely are there any direct inspirations for a particular piece. My experimentations are process driven, one idea, one experiment leads to another until the choreography of the dynamic lines and empty space come together to exude a seemingly effortless serenity.
By leaving small marks of the work-process of bending, forming and joining the hand-made quality of crafting remains visible as a humble recognition of our human flaws and imperfections. Since the beginning in 2009 when this piece was created I think my imperfections have improved.
With my experimentations being process driven and one idea, one experiment leading to another - this piece is one of the precursors of the following curvature pieces...which I make today - 2017.
Ute Decker, 05 January 2018
With a degree in Political Economics, jewellery was a private passion for many years. Predominantly self-taught with numerous evening classes since the 90's I have been making jewellery only for myself and close friends.
Then I was invited to take part in this group show during London Jewellery Week. At this first exhibition, to my astonishment, I won an award, received press coverage and most pieces sold quickly and a couple of collectors brought my work including Tuan Lee who bought this arm piece together with several other pieces.
I only ever intended to make jewellery just for myself. With this amazing response at this first exhibition, I thought...how wonderful, this feels rather nice...maybe I'll take part in one more exhibition...that was in 2009...
I am grateful to all those who showed their support, bought and featured my work at the very beginning.
Overall, I am drawn to the minimalist philosophy and aesthetic of Zen, especially calligraphy as well as the expressive archaic forms of tribal arts.
I don't work conceptually. Rarely are there any direct inspirations for a particular piece. My experimentations are process driven, one idea, one experiment leads to another until the choreography of the dynamic lines and empty space come together to exude a seemingly effortless serenity.
By leaving small marks of the work-process of bending, forming and joining the hand-made quality of crafting remains visible as a humble recognition of our human flaws and imperfections. Since the beginning in 2009 when this piece was created I think my imperfections have improved.
With my experimentations being process driven and one idea, one experiment leading to another - this piece is one of the precursors of the following curvature pieces...which I make today - 2017.
Ute Decker, 05 January 2018