Cityscape Christmas 2019

BRIGHT SHINY THINGS
THE FILING
KABINETT
How would you describe your
jewellery style? Our style is
contemporary leaning towards art
jewellery. Important for us are
uniqueness and good design. We
use traditional materials such as
gold and silver along with a variety
of other precious and non-precious
materials. Where do you find
inspiration? Inspiration comes
from many sources, whether it be
from specific investigations of an
idea or something we have
observed during our day-to-day
travels. Lynn often finds inspiration
in the botanical world and in Elfi’s
latest solo show she questioned
the definition of preciousness and
explored the hidden beauty of
bone. For Jeremy, the design
process often starts with materials
like native stones but he is also
inspired by the simplicity of
Scandinavian aesthetic. What are
you working on at the moment?
We have a travelling exhibition of
work, which is currently on display
at Gallery Thirty Three in Wanaka.
This is work that the three of us
have made in reponse to our
various interpretations of its title,
SCALE. Commissions or your own
creations – do you have a
preference? Both have their place
in our practice. We love using our
creativity to develop our own
designs but it is also satisfying to
create a unique piece of jewellery
for clients. Throughout the year we
are constantly producing new work
to add to our collections. Apart
from your own, whose jewellery
do you love? Within New Zealand
we love Craig McIntosh’s stone
work but also Warwick Freeman
and Jane Dodd, plus the exciting
work of a variety of international
jewellery artists. How did you
come to be a jeweller? We have all
had thorough training at various
institutions and other workshops
around the world. Elfi trained in
Germany at the Jewellery
Akademy in Pforzheim, Jeremy
trained in Dunedin and with
jeweller Jens Hansen in Nelson, and
Lynn in Whanganui and as a
partner in Fluxus, in Dunedin.
What’s the best thing about the
job? We love the fact that we
spend our days being creative and
making jewellery, plus we enjoy the
atmosphere in the workshop. The
three of us have a great shared
sense of humour. Any pieces you
are particularly proud of? Any
work that makes it to the point of
being displayed in the gallery or an
exhibition has gone through a
process of design, creation and
critique. Whenever someone falls
in love with a piece of our work and
we see it walk out of the gallery, we
are always proud. What was the
last piece you made that you
couldn’t bear to part with? The
parting with a piece is not always
the problem, what is particularly
satisfying is when the design
process has been well resolved or
the client’s brief has been met.
There are often pieces that we have
a special connection to, whether it
be because of the materials used or
just the end design being unique
– these are difficult to let go of.
How does it feel when you are
out and you see someone wearing
your work? It is always a big
compliment to see our work being
worn. It feels like the jewellery is
doing its job. Who would you love
to see wearing one of your
pieces? It would be awesome to
see a big collector such as
Madeleine Albright (former US
diplomat) wear one of our pieces.
Apparently she has a great
understanding of contemporary
jewellery and has been collecting
for years. When you are not
making beautiful jewellery, what
do you love to do? Walking the
fourth member of the workshop,
Ruby, our 10-year-old Bernese
Mountain Dog.
elfispiewack.com; lynnkelly.co.nz;
jeremyleeming.com
68 CITYSCAPE.CO.NZ Christmas 19