Divine Communication
Opening with drinks and appetisers 12.03 18:30
Fri-Sat 11:00-18:00
The conversation between religion and the human need for meaning is a timeless spectacle, through which existence is justified with the creation of gods, forces and folk practices. Once a divine being is acknowledged a connection is formed, frequently with a transactional character.
Sacrifices, votives, prayers, fasting, iconography, or scriptures, all of which signify a spiritual arrangement, in return for a favor or protection.
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Symbols act as intermediaries between humans and the object of their worship which, through the representation of specific characteristics and events, permit the understanding, transmission and celebration of the religion. Therefore the human assignment of symbols and practices to a religion are imperative to its endurance. The communication between believers and their idols is a sacred one. It is also one rooted in give and take, that of a negotiation.
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We choose to investigate these relationships through jewellery and objects, the symbolic interpretation of which may relate to their material value, which consequently reflects a social, political, cultural and/or religious state, or indeed an emotional
currency that surrounds and derives from a personal experience.
Through our work we attempt to explore these ideas of cultural and religious practice and how their roots inform their present day manifestations. We endeavour to create a dialogue between the viewer and the pieces regarding the symbolic status of spirituality, past and present.
Ashleigh McCulloch
Ashleigh McCulloch is a South African jeweller and designer trained and based in Florence. She studied journalism and fashion design in Cape Town and later pursued her interest in metal work to Italy. She is interested in symbols, iconography and their interaction with our cultural orientation in the modern world.
Yu Fang Hu
Yufang Hu is a Taiwanese jeweller, who obtained her bachelor in jewellery and body ornament from Alchimia contemporary jewellery school in 2018, and continues her artistic research in Estonian Academy of Art. With a background in social studies, she has developed an interest in the relationship between an object and its social context, duality and space. She has exhibited in Italy, United Kingdom, Poland, and Taiwan.
Tshepiso Lekganyane
Tshepiso Lekganyane is a South African Native influenced by the socio-political history of her country. Tshepiso’s practice is centred around the human condition and examines and questions what identity means in certain places, spaces and time. Tshepiso has a BFA in Fine Art from the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, South Africa as well as a BFA in Contemporary Jewellery and Jewellery Design from Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School ,Florence, Italy.
Margarita Malliri
Margarita Malliri is a jewellery designer and maker, with a background in architecture, from Athens, Greece. Through jewellery she seeks to expore the aesthetic representation of culture, choosing to work with familiar themes and proposing new narratives and interpretations. Her work is mainly inspired by greek mythology, folk art and natural world. She currently lives and works in Florence, Italy.
