Jiro Kamata

Jewellery maker

©Wanying Xie

©Jiro Kamata

Transforming lenses into precious stones

Jiro creates unconventional jewellery using lenses
He needs to fall in love with the material in order to use it
His pieces are inspired by his constant travelling

Jiro Kamata is a jewellery maker with a fascination for glass lenses. He grew up in Hirosaki in Japan, and spent his childhood in his father and grandfather's watch and jewellery store. His desire to create contemporary jewellery brought him to study in Germany's Pforzheim and later at the Munich Academy under professor, Otto Künzli. Today, he successfully combines Eastern precision and the tradition of goldsmithing with creative freedom and original thinking. His contemporary jewellery stands out for its unconventional use of materials, as he creates his pieces from various types of lenses, such as eyeglasses or cameras. "I am inspired by lenses. They are elements full of mystery and stories. I need to fall in love with the material, and once I do, I fight all odds to create something with it," says Jiro.

Interview

©Wanying Xie

©Wanying Xie

How did you get into jewellery making?: My father encouraged me to go into jewellery making when I was hesitant in choosing a profession, as I always loved crafts. After I enrolled in the Yamanashi Prefectural Institute of Gemology and Jewelry Art, I realised that this is the right practice for me.
How did lenses become part of your practice?: I wanted to make something valuable and different from a material that would challenge me. I found lenses to be a perfect fit. They are transparent, they reflect light and I am able to give them colour. So, in a way, they are my precious stones – stones that cannot be found anywhere else.
Does your material inspire you?: I need to love the material passionately in order to create an object from it. My work is very personal to me. Cultural differences inspire me a lot, so I am constantly travelling and meeting locals to learn about their culture. The sun, light, and shadows are different everywhere, and I learn a lot by seeing this with my own eyes.
What is the most difficult aspect of your craft?: It is competing with my own previous work. Every time I make a new piece, I want it to be the best. Creating was easier when I was just starting out as a student. I think being a professional means being in a constant challenge with yourself.

Jiro Kamata is a master artisan: he began his career in 1996 and he started teaching in 2006