While Denmark is a renowned design nation, Danish jewellery artists stand on the shoulders of a traditional use of beautifully crafted materials, straight lines and a high degree of functionality. Accordingly, the Danish art jewellery scene is not exclusively synonymous with New Nordic vibes or limited to precious metals and pale wood. It is in fact diverse, imaginative and colourful.
Inspired by the achievements of previous generations as well as their contemporary colleagues, nine Danish jewellery designers are now ready to present their splendidly crafted pieces for the showcase "COPENHAGEN ReARRANGED" at Atta Gallery, Thailand's first contemporary art jewellery platform.
For many generations, the Danish population has actively, with trust and solidarity, joined forces to grow society as a whole. They are formed by a culture where social movements and trade unions have played a major role in expanding communities, generating wealth and elevating the nation.
This spirit encouraged two Danish curators, Marie-Louise Kristensen and Annette Dam, to form the platform Art Jewelry Copenhagen that disseminates contemporary jewellery art for national and international audiences.
Kristensen said: "ATTA Gallery invited Art Jewellery Copenhagen to do this project a long time ago. Then Corona came and unfortunately is still here." However, the Danish artist insisted on her return to Bangkok as she found her colleagues and the art jewellery scene here "fresh and ambitious".
"I really cheer for ATTA Gallery and admire the work they do for promoting art and art jewellery. It is, for me, a big pleasure to get the opportunity to work together with ATTA Gallery and to be able to present a group of Danish art jewellers to Thailand's audience," she said.
Let's Dance Brooch by Marie-Louise Kristensen. Photos courtesy of atta gallery
Both Kristensen and Dam looked for the opportunity to create a space where they could share their knowledge as well as culture with other nations, and also build trust among Danish artists to grow together.
Kristensen added: "Apart from the fact that I like to organise and join forces with others, I was looking forward to developing the process of collaboration and seeing if we were able to do something that was both challenging and fun -- not only for me but for all of the participating artist."
In this exhibition, each artist's individual works feature unique designs, personal concepts and storytelling. They challenge traditions and the use of conventional materials.
Kristensen's pendant HCH Satellite is made of glass, silver and 14-carat gold, with the HCH embroidery made by Helen Clara Hensley, one of the participating artists. This embroidery was set in a frame of silver on one end, to reflect that people could gain a world of diversity and positive surprises if they managed to stay curious and open-minded.
The HCH Satellite is part of Kristensen's project "SAMMENSURIUM", which means hotchpotch, as it is a series of unknown creatures and an attempt to give form to the past years disturbed undisturbedness.
Regarding this project, Kristensen freely adapted her creative space and put together her reflections, including a snatch of news, details from the city space and fragments of reality into new soulful unities as the lockdown had given her new insight into the work process.
Meanwhile, Dam created each piece of jewellery in a sensual and narrative universe with layers of both seriousness and humour, ideally considered through both a loving and critical perspective as she wanted to connect her artworks with an artistic expression and conceptual thoughts.
"To materialise and visualise somewhat abstract thoughts into art jewellery can be challenging, but it is in this work process a lot of my drive is produced," Dam said.
Her jewellery art is also part of the project "Making Complex Sense". This project was initiated during a frustrating period at her workbench, filled with material and technical try-outs when the artist tried to craft her work from a mishmash of valuable yet inexpensive materials, narrative and non-verbal elements, with strict and sensuous forms.
Dam said: "Making Complex Sense" was "an experimental laboratory aiming to bring forward new relations and insights -- both in relation to my practice and for me, but hopefully also to the wearer and the audience".
Evidently, the Danish jewellery field is dynamic and constantly evolving.
The group exhibition is scheduled from Jan 29 to Feb 17 daily from 1pm onwards.
Visit attagallery.com for further information.
HCH SATELLITE Pendant by Marie-Louise Kristensen.
One Day Time Will Come Brooch by Annette Dam.
