Continuing on from her book Coveted: Art and
Innovation in High Jewelry, the first modern jewellery book published by Phaidon
where she asked the question Can Jewellery be Art? To Brilliant & Black: A
Jewelry Renaissance, the first-ever exhibition of its kind dedicated to black
jewellery designers staged at Sotheby’s New York in September 2021 – Melanie
Grant presents a third project Force of Nature, aimed at further dismantling the
remaining hierarchy that separates art and jewellery.
Force of Nature will feature nearly 40 jewels dedicated to Naturalism and the
evolution of our relationship with the outside world, created by 17
contemporary artists embracing both figurative and abstract approaches. They
are: Ai Weiwei, Bibi van der Velden, Fabio Salini, Frank Stella, Giorgio Vigna,
Giuseppe Penone, Grima, Jacqueline Rabun, James de Givenchy, John Moore, Joy
BC, Liv Luttrell, Lydia Courteille, Melanie Eddy, Melanie Grant, Satta Matturi, Ute
Decker and Wallace Chan.
Hypathia brooch in bronze, recycled 18kt yellow gold, steel and garnets – Joy BC
The exhibition will launch on the evening of 18th November at a private
reception attended by supporters of Serpentine Galleries and held at The
Elisabetta Cipriani Gallery in Mayfair – 1st floor, 23 Heddon Street, London W1B
4BQ, the foremost destination for artist jewellery in London.
All pieces will be
available to purchase by private appointment or over the phone until Saturday
27th November. This is the first time many of the artists have offered their art via
a gallery including Grant who debuts her first jewel.
Elisabetta Cipriani, owner and founder of The Elisabetta Cipriani Gallery, says:
“The combination of artists Melanie has brought together signifies her
determination to break down barriers between jewellery and fine art. It is a
mission I share. Any artist should be free to work in any discipline and the
enormity of nature as inspiration, dwarfs any argument to the contrary.”
Melanie Grant – Writer and curator says: “We have a lot of first’s in this show
from a collective cast of creative geniuses being exhibited together working in
materials such as tiger eye, carbon fibre, fossilised ammonite, red bronze and
anodised aluminium to a vigorous debate on launch night with one of the most
important jewellery collectors in the world. Thanks to all the artists for their
contribution, to Elisabetta for hosting this exceptional exhibition and to The
Serpentine for giving jewellery this level of prominence.”
Salamander brooch with opals, sapphires, peridot, tsavorites and diamonds –
Lydia Courteille
