Reflect the light in Marlene McKibbin's acrylic jewellery, which truly catches the eye as it sparkles in motion on the body. See Kathie Murphy's polyester resin works, which artfully compose colours and textures, contained in the final solid form. Adorn Tania Clarke Hall's three-dimensional leather creations, with their popping neon details. See how Faye Hall assembles multiple materials into beautifully tactile, wearable arrangements, and let Helly Frusher's elegant wave-like forms transport you to the coastline.
Work by Marlene McKibbin, Kathie Murphy, Tania Clarke Hall, Faye Hall and Helly Frusher is on show at our Marylebone Gallery and available online at caagallery.org.uk.
Marlene McKibbin has been making jewellery for over three decades, using many different materials. Her main body of work has been in acrylic and, over the last fifteen years, stainless steel and gold. The acrylic is hand machined and dyed, with particular attention paid to the finish to allow the angle of refractive light to bounce through; simple structures reflect the unique and tactile qualities of the material. Her work is understated, elegant and effortlessly modern.
Helly Frusher's 'Tidal Collection' is a homage to the ever-changing and ethereal Cornish coastline. Every summer she visits the wild West coast of Cornwall with her sketchbook. The photographs she has taken over the years in the landscape serve as inspiration for her designs and individual commissions. Helly feels a particular affinity for reproducing the organic textures and undulating patterns that define the coast through creating with lost-wax casting. Select pieces contain topaz stones, designed to enhance the vibrancy and depth of the piece, reminiscent of sparkling reflections upon the water.
Kathie Murphy works principally in polyester resin, a substance that allows her to make her own material with which to explore the effects of light and colour through shape and form. Resin is a plastic that starts as a liquid. At the early stage it can be coloured using special pigments, which Murphy does in a painterly way, making the work particularly individual. As well as being colourful, resin is warm, tactile and very wearable.
Faye Hall creates unique pieces of jewellery that draw upon her fabric collages and also that spark conversation for the wearer. Hall is inspired many things; she is forever taking photos of colour combinations, textures or interesting shapes. She likes to collect fabric and material scraps, unusual found items and has a secret love for finding and collecting old plates. Hall's practice is currently anchored to exploring the joining of material qualities and colour combinations through embroidery and placement.
Tania Clarke Hall is an award-winning jeweller working in leather. Influenced by her background in chemistry and a love of Japanese design, with its wabi-sabi aesthetic, Tania’s bold and dramatic pieces are designed with a deceptively simple economy of line. She delights in moulding, slashing, scorching and colouring the leather using experimental and innovative techniques that continually push the boundaries of her medium. The result is elegant yet playful jewellery, created to be worn in a variety of ways: twisted, wrapped or draped on the body. The beauty of her jewellery is only truly apparent when worn. Then the pieces shift and change to reveal different perspectives, helical shapes and sudden bursts of colour. Tactile, warm, malleable and beautifully lightweight, her jewellery is a pleasure to wear.
