Castle in the air - Õhuloss Jewellery from Estonia

Animal liver, deer legs, sepia and ?cosmic dust? are not usually amongst the preferred materials used by goldsmiths in the creation of pieces of jewellery. This is not the case for the Estonian group of artists ?õhuLoss?, which means ?Castle in the Air?. Its seven members make use of many organic materials in the design of objects which are on the border between applied and visual arts. They create confusing pieces of jewellery which appear to hover in time and space and play with these concepts. The lyrical creations of the seven artists evoke a past era, but their choice of materials is shocking enough to bring the viewer back to the present. The undisputed strength of the work lies in its suggestive power, which puts the viewer under its spell.
The new Estonian jewellery of the ?õhuLoss? group probes itself, the world and life. It is a medium for communication without words, expressing the ambivalence of the modern attitude towards life. The young Estonian jewellery artists show that especially intelligent jewellery close to nature is very powerful. This jewellery reveals the human feelings of the wearer. The purpose of this jewellery, according to Kadri Mälk, lies in the quiet support of its wearers and in the discrete revelation of their identity.
The group of artists ?õhuLoss? (Castle in the Air) from Estonia presents exciting and individualistic means of expression, which distinguish themselves refreshingly from familiar expectations of form in jewellery.
Artists of ?õhuLoss?:
Villu Plink | Eve Margus-Villems | Kristiina Laurits | Piret Hirv | Katrin Sipelgas | Tanel Veenre | Kadri Mälk
Exhibition in the context of the European Capital of Culture Tallinn ? Stories of the Seashore, 26.8. to 26.9.2011