The beauty of craftsmanship often finds echoes across different fields and practices. So it is when the ceramic artist Jeanette Adrienne Wee encountered the fine jewellery icons of Tiffany & Co. The realms of earthen clay and gleaming gold may seem far apart, but they share common qualities.
A tradition of handwork; a delicate sense of line, shape and proportion; an abiding attention to detail; and the courage to explore new creative possibilities through artisanship and fine craftsmanship. For Wee, her ceramics practice is in a newfound space of experimentation and daring. But she holds that the fundamentals are immovable.
Not breaking the rules per se, but continuing and creatively furthering them. A post shared by Vogue Singapore (@voguesingapore) A first step like wedging, for example, is non-negotiable. This is where soft clay is kneaded by hand to remove air.
Wee uses a spiral technique, learnt in Japan, where formless clay is kneaded into an almost nautiloid shape. Done before the material even reaches the wheel, this technique is a delicate process that gives the clay strength. Strength, as it happens, is an emotional core of the HardWear collection by Tiffany & Co.
Inspired by an archival chain bracelet, HardWear’s design is a contemporary interpretation that joins U-shaped links with round ball ends. The idea is the transformative strength of love—that the security associated with a chain can also be imbued with delicacy. The result is bold and chunky with a hin.