YOUNG local jeweller, Phoebe Porter, is showing a range of jewellery, which demonstrates superbly the maxim that ‘more is less’.
Rings, earrings, necklaces, brooches and bracelets are seemingly simple, but their very simplicity belies the skills and knowledge of the materials used by the artist. Starting with a flat sheet of titanium, she folds it to create volume, which contrasts in some instances with stainless steel wire. The titanium is matt grey, the wire is silver in colour and both have different textures. The wire is springy, creating the clasp. In other bracelets, she has joined two flat circles or squares of titanium with rivets of stainless steel.
She introduces colour in necklaces, earrings and rings with the use of discs of coloured aluminium – like delicious pastilles – of golden yellow or bright red. “Crossbar” is a necklace that hangs beautifully around the neck. A fine snake chain has a golden circle of aluminium on one end with a black bar on the other and it moves as the wearer moves her body.
Porter also uses gold to create a delicate ring and in another she uses stainless steel. Gold is also used as a contrast with titanium. Continuing an earlier body of work, she is showing “Line” pieces – brooches, earrings, and necklaces.
With her limited range of materials, which also give a limited colour palette, this is a confidently resolved exhibition. Using simple geometric shapes – the line, circle, square, and the triangle, she creates jewellery that is light, carefully constructed so it is easy to wear and looks great.
5 grams necklace
Aluminium, titanium, stainless steel, 920 gold
Photo: Johannes Kuhnen
Construct brooches and earrings
Aluminium, titanium, stainless steel, 925 silver
Photo: Andrew Sikorski
Crossbar necklace
Aluminium, titanium, stainless steel
Photo: Johannes Kuhnen
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