January 21- February 28, 2015
Opening Reception: Friday January 23, 6-8 pm
Inspired by a recent tour of European museums, palaces, and treasure houses, Jane Dodd: Rococo Revolution illustrates the artist’s simultaneous experience of seduction and repulsion to the sumptuous and decadent housing of these elite collections. Referencing a contemporary interpretation of the late Baroque aesthetic, Dodd’s meticulously carved bone and wood pieces take the form of wearable objects, each representing symbolic elements drawn from the natural world. According to the New Zealand based artist:
“Rococo Revolution… illustrates my discomfort with the way we hoover up wildlife and environment for our own frivolous ends. With these pendants I want to honor the simple, elegant forms of the animal world. The subject of the brooches is the battle between nature and culture. The collection of works pays homage to the crazy and rich craft traditions of the Rococo Age.”
Prior to studying 3D Design/Jewelry at the Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland, Dodd earned a BA in the Phenomenology of Religion with additional papers in Anthropology, Art History, Maori Language and Philosophy from the University of Otago. Her jewelry has appeared in publications such as the book 21st Century Jewellery: the best of the 500 series and can be found in the permanent collections of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, The Dowse Art Museum (NZ), and Hawkes Bay Museum (NZ). With a background in both music and the arts, Dodd is also known on an international level for her role as a bass player in influential punk bands such as The Chills and The Verlaines. She presently lives and works in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand.
To read a recent Art Jewelry Forum interview with the artist, CLICK HERE.
To download a PDF of the full press release, please CLICK HERE.