Shared life, shared craft
- Silke and Christian met while studying at the Escola Massana in Barcelona
- Using fair trade raw materials has been a priority for them since 2004
- While their works differ greatly, they share a similar philosophy
Silke Knetsch and Christian Streit met while studying at the Escola Massana in Barcelona in the 1990s and became a couple. From a family of goldsmiths, Silke focused her energies on finding her own design language in Barcelona. Christian, on the other hand, had followed very strict goldsmithing training and loved the freedom that living and working in Barcelona brought. In 1997, with their first child on the way, the pair moved back to Freiburg and opened their joint studio, which is still centered around their shared workbench. Artistically, Silke and Christian's works differ greatly, yet they share the same philosophy: with their expressive creativity, they contradict contemporary design's cool image. Their jewellery creations are characterised by opulence and richness.
Interview
- Have you noticed an evolution in the style of your work over time?
- Silke: My jewellery began as rather formal and architectural, but gradually evolved into soft, ornamental forms. Putting my works side-by-side today, you would see how they have gradually evolved. Pieces made by Christian have always been ornamental and bold. In my opinion, studying at Escola Massana in Barcelona contributed to this direction.
- Could you tell us more about your series MATERIA PRIMA?
- Christian: In honour of the alchemists, MATERIA PRIMA was named after porcelain, which was an important raw material to them. Our collaboration with porcelain painters allows us to recreate this highly complex and elaborate craft into contemporary jewellery that is suitable for everyday wear.
- Why do you compare jewellery makers to alchemists?
- Christian: Jewellery making is always a game of materials and shapes. Our materials have included gold, silver, and precious stones, as well as fabric, plastic, enamel, copper, and even porcelain. I experimented with Japanese lacquer urushi at university. The combination of all these different components creates something of great value.
- Is there something about your work that most people are not aware of?
- Christian: When you work on a piece of jewellery, you usually have an idea, a picture, and sometimes even a vision of the wearer in mind. The piece you create will also be special to you in the end. Then you wait for the piece to resonate with someone. Sometimes this can happen very quickly, but there are also times when it can take decades.
Silke Knetsch & Christian Streit are master artisans: they began their career in 1987 and they started teaching in 1987
Where
Silke Knetsch & Christian Streit
