Our contemporary jewellery artists shine at Schmuck

Abstract

Philip Clarke discusses the centrepiece of Munich Jewellery Week (MJW), 'Schmuck'. The exhibition features the work of four New Zealand jewellers - Jane Dodd, Karl Fritsch, Kelly McDonald, and Shelly Norton. Fritsch, who has dealers across the globe, is famous for his rings which explore the traditional form in new ways. Norton, makes jewellery from reworking plastic shopping bags. McDonald's work responds to the relationship between the object and the body, and the wear and tear of time. Dodd's work is informed by historic decorative traditions, animal forms and binary of nature and culture. The article also reflects on earlier iterations of MJW and the success of New Zealand jewellery artists.