Carla Nuis
19 June until 27 August 2022 (extended until 17 September 2022)
“The new collection being shown in my exhibition at Galerie Marzee comprises four series of necklaces made from European fruit tree wood. Wood is pure, solid and tender, just like precious metal. My form language is continued in reverse. Whereas in previous collections I formed hollow objects from gold and silver plate, the necklaces from fruit tree wood were created by removing excess material. This releases the piece of jewellery from its block of wood. An unprocessed precious metal alloy is impersonal and cold; only the forging makes it into a jewel. Each piece of wood, on the other hand, already has its own character. It has lived, has borne fruit, has its own compactness and fiery drawings. The challenge is to preserve that character when working – by finding the right cuts and chop surfaces, the wood grain, a crack. With each cut, there is always the risk of being too many, of breaking. Wood forging requires sharp craftsmen’s tools. The designs expand on themes in my earlier work, such as baroque pearls – in LittlePotatoes (2004) and RedPotatoes (2007) – and children’s drawings – in Golden Cuddles (2014) and FlowerRing (2019). I have ‘sculpted’ my previous shapes. The wood is not sanded and untreated to keep rawness.”
Carla Nuis
