Carlier Makigawa: Contained: Defining Space
 |
| 2011Brooch Blackened Silver, Coral 50cm wide |
At
Bilk, Palmerston Lane,
Manuka, until August 18, 2012. Open
Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 5pm.
Carlier
Makigawa, who lives and works in Melbourne, is
one of Australia’s
leading silversmiths and jewellers. This
is her first solo show in Canberra,
although she is known nationally and internationally.
A
consistent theme in Carlier’s work is the frame: the volume it creates and is
contained by it. Whether the pieces are necklaces,
bangles, rings or small table sculptures, they appear as three dimensional line
drawings in space. Many contain nothing
but hint at the possibility. They are
full of form and feeling and have a fragile appearance.
 |
| 2012 Necklace 2012, sterling silver 24cm |
Small,
pod-like forms are clustered – often seemingly unbalanced – to form the
jewellery. These elements are based on
gum nuts, seed pods and other flora from Western
Australia, where the artist was born and
trained. Other works are more angular
and are joined to form more geometrical objects.
Makigawa
uses silver – often blackened – and frequently combines this precious metal
with polished coral twigs which add colour and contrast, attracting the
viewer’s eye.
A
loosely circular blackened silver brooch is punctuated around its uneven circle
with small pieces of red polished choral, projecting from the apertures of the
pods. A similar work in matt silver holds
pale, creamy pink pieces of choral.
The
angular frames of two brooches titled Nature
and Structure contain larger branches
of pale choral and appear to be constructed around them. On one or two brooches, one or two elements
are painted with bright colours, highlighting the volume.
Three
bracelets, one in matt silver, one in blackened silver and one incorporating
both colours, lightly circle the wrist.
While they appear to be fragile, they are strong.
Two
blackened silver necklaces are made from straighter, slightly longer elements,
linked together. These sit comfortably
around the neck and move gently as the wearer moves. A matt silver necklace is slightly shorter,
sitting higher on the wearer. The
simplicity belies the detailed construction process used by Makigawa.
 |
| Carlier Makigawa 2012 Brooch Blackened Silver, Coral |
In
addition to the jewellery, the artist is showing three small table
sculptures. The elements are angular and
blackened silver frames sit inside matt silver frames. They too hint at what might be contained. The shadows cast by strong lighting add a
fourth dimension to the whole.
© Meredith Hinchliffe
August
4, 2012
