University News Last updated 14 October 2019
FERROcity, an exhibition of jewellery and objects which celebrates iron in the city, has travelled out to China to exhibit Beijing International Jewelry Art Exhibition at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. The show, co-curated by Head of School Stephen Bottomley, and Elizabeth Turrell, visiting Professor, includes work by academic staff and invited international artists.
After exhibiting in the School of Jewellery’s Vittoria Street Gallery in April, this exhibition brings together fascinating artistic responses to the theme of iron by twenty-two contemporary makers. Iron is a material that has become synonymous with human life and civilisation and as such has become embedded in both our language and understanding of the world.
FERROcity showcases a breadth of approaches to this fascinating but familiar material. Ideas explore the interpretation and influence of iron as catalyst, material, and fundamental element of life, culminating in contemporary metalwork and jewellery ranging from steel vessels to recycled iron nail jewellery. Alongside this gemmological samples and photography taken on specialist microscopes has been commissioned from the Gemmology department at the School of Jewellery which captures the transformative effect iron has on the colouration of gemstones.
The show opened in Germany at the Museum Reich der Kristalle, Mineralogical State Collection, Munich and ran in tandem with the city’s international jewellery fair ‘Inhorgenta’ in February 2019 and ‘International Jewellery Week’ and ‘Schmuck’ exhibitions in March 2019.
As part of the celebrations, Stephen Bottomley will be delivering a talk to over 500+ audience, with Professor Jivan Astfalck also giving a talk about international jewellery education.
The exhibition will be open between the 18 – 28 October 2019. The show will then go on to AIVA Shanghai afterwards.
Exhibitors
School of Jewellery:
Dauvit Alexander, Jivan Astfalck, Stephen Bottomley, Jeremy Hobbins, Bridie Lander, Anna Lorenz, Sarah O’Hana, Drew Markou, Toni Mayner, Jo Pond, Rebecca Steiner, Elizabeth Turrell.
Invited artists:
Marianne Anderson, Tim Carson, Rachael Colley, Bettina Dittlmann, Christine Graf, Kirsten Haydon, Michael Jank, Joohee Han, Simone Nolden Jo Pudelko.