Geometric disruption with a cause
- Ute creates innovative jewellery sculptures
- She has a varied background at the crossroads of winemaking, political economics and journalism
- She is a pioneer of using Fairtrade gold and of the responsible jewellery movement
Ute Decker is a winemaker’s daughter who studied political economics and ventured into journalism, gaining experience at CNN and the UN. From the vineyard, Ute learned reverence for nature, while her studies sparked curiosity, revealing the interconnectedness of everything and the power of individual action to forge change. Over the years, she also gained experience in different media, such as large-scale sculpting, ceramics, textiles, and wood. Ute is a self-taught master jeweller and some of her pieces are exhibited in important museum collections. She creates wearable, sculptural jewellery with a holistic approach. Channelling her political, language, and journalistic background, her artistic work has fostered an industry-changing jewellery movement that champions traceable Fairtrade gold.
Interview
- Do you consider your art a way of sending a message?
- My individual artworks are never overtly political. However, materials have their own complex stories, none more so than gold. Therefore, the mindful choice of materials, such as fully traceable Fairtrade gold, is as important to me as a piece’s outer beauty.
- If your jewellery had a voice, what would it say?
- "Come dance with me.” Like music, a successful piece of jewellery touches you emotionally. It might resonate with a shared sensibility, ignite curiosity, and spark thought. As the most intimate of art forms, jewellery’s wearability holds an incredible power to connect.
- What tools do you use?
- I sculpt each piece by hand. Each one is the culmination of months spent exploring with model versions, each building an intuitive understanding of the final form. The fewer the tools, the better. Most important are time and a quiet studio to lose myself in the creative process.
- Have your work and voice impacted the field of jewellery in general?
- I pioneered by using fully traceable, certified Fairtrade gold, setting a new standard in the industry. Now, a growing number of jewellery makers have been empowered by this knowledge, which is available through the largest resource on responsible jewellery practices, which I established in 2009. It is now an integral part of ethicalmaking.org.
Ute Decker is a master artisan: she began her career in 2009
Where
Ute Decker
