Attraction/Aversion

Damn...It's been too long. Can't believe a month has slipped by since I last posted. Not even sure where it's gone! I need to try really keep up with this.

Anyway...

THIS is the work of innovative and creative contemporary jeweller and jewellery artist Kerry Howley...

At first glance, these delicate, intricate necklaces could be mistook for lace of thread work, but it is in fact made from human hair. This often evokes two emotions, often at the very same time; attraction to the beauty of it and aversion from it because of the material used. These responses were the reason that Kerry Howley chose to experiment with such a material in such an unusual way. Kerry wanted to explore how people can feel seemingly opposing emotional responses simultaneously.

Human hair was perfect for this exploration as it is a familiar material that we take pride in and can be considered truly beautiful and very attractive, however, once off the body it becomes an almost instant innate source of aversion and often even disgust. Kerry wanted to see if she could make discarded hair attractive again. Through using patterns and symmetry, inspired by wallpaper patterns, that are instinctively aesthetically pleasing and through the familiar form of a necklace, Howley has successfully created a delicate balance between the viewer/wearer's feelings of aversion and attraction.

Personally, I think her pieces are gorgeous and really exciting. I love the detail and I can't help but marvel at the detail and the intricacy. I wonder how on earth she does it, apparently Howley used broken saw blades to fix the hair (provided by a friend's mother!) together.

They look so effortlessly woven together yet I dread to think how long each one must have took, with painstaking accuracy and delicacy. You cannot help but be in awe of them. Although saying all this, I'm not entirely sure how I'd feel if I were to actually wear one...it is definitely hard to get over the fact that it is someone else's hair wrapped and winding so gently around your neck and collar bone...But I would snap one up if displayed in a frame no question! Perhaps if it was made from you're own hair, would that be better? It's quite a confusing subject and without doubt plays off quite strong emotional responses.

Kerry Howley recently graduated from Middlesex University with a First Class BA(Hons) in Jewellery and Accessory design. Attraction/Aversion is Kerry's award winning graduate collection, winning the Museum of Domestic Architecture's Arthur Silver Award for graduate innovation and excellence. Kerry is "fascinated by the power materials have to influence our emotional response to jewellery, with a particular interest in how these emotions can be conflicting".

"Kerry is happily available for commission.
Your commission need not be jewellery, Attraction/Aversion is displayed in exhibitions as wall pieces, and a commission could make a personal, elegant and unusual talking point framed in your home.
For more details about a possible commission contact Kerry at; kerry@kerryhowley.co.uk"

- http://www.kerryhowley.co.uk/

I will be very interested to see what's next for this talented new designer and as a fellow graduate I wish her the best of luck!



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