The art of conceptual jewellery
- Kelvin is a London-based jewellery maker
- His jewellery interprets themes of chaos and rebirth
- His method includes crushing precious stones and gluing them back together
There is nothing static about Kelvin J. Birk’s jewellery pieces. His objects are products of destruction, reconstruction, and transformation. His approach is to find order in chaos, redetermine what 'precious' is and to artfully play with it. Having started at the age of 17, opening a London studio in 1998, Kelvin has been steadily creating pieces of jewellery art. In Kelvin's work, collision and subsequent resurrection of materials are central. He smashes various gemstones (sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and others) into fragments, glues them together, uses a sand casting process, and never stops experimenting. His inspiration comes from the making process itself. Kelvin’s work is exhibited all around the world from the USA to Taiwan.
Interview
- What training did you receive?
- I completed my jewellery apprenticeship in Germany studying at the BFS Glas und Schmuck in Kaufbeuren. I then came to London to study at the CASS Faculty of Art (now London Metropolitan University) in a Master's programme in Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Crafts.
- Why did you choose jewellery making as your craft?
- From a young age, I wanted to do something creative. Studying sculpture was not an option as I found it too academic and abstract. Jewellery was just right as I love working with materials and still being able to make creative sculptural objects.
- How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?
- I still use all the knowledge from my traditional training to create pieces. Though often I disregard the traditions too and glue stones instead of setting them. I experiment a lot and I let the materials and techniques determine the outcome of my work.
- What do you suggest to young people who want to practise jewellery making?
- Keep learning and studying as much as you can. Especially the techniques, as they are not being taught as much as they used to. Also keep an open mind on designing, experimenting, and playing. And do not copy the work of others.
Kelvin J. Birk is a master artisan: he began his career in 1992 and he started teaching in 1998
Where
Kelvin J. Birk
