By applying humour and wit, Akiko Kurihara uses everyday items; the unconsciously forgotten and taken for granted, to connect with people adorning her pieces, creating an intimate link between the artist and the wearer.
What is so fascinating about Akiko's body of work stems from seeing everyday objects as something particularly intriguing and of importance, for example, a safety pin, sink plug and spoon, asking inquisitive questions such as 'is a safety pin really safe?', or delving into the consumer mistrust within the jewellery industry by using one piece of genuine high quality Akoya pearl in a strand of imitation pearls.
I marveled at the way where she attached a cigarette made of silver onto a long disc-shaped black chain, when worn it seems innocuous, quirky even, but when laid on a flat surface the shape of the chain is transformed into a cigarette smoke.
Akiko's work force us to question, ponder, hesitate and think analytically, aiming to challenge herself as well as her audience to explore the possibility of jewellery being above and beyond its given identity and function, and to uncover what we consistently believed to be mundane and forgettable is actually an eye opener to our universal train of thoughts. I mean, who would compare the ball chain typically used in jewellery to a chain attached to the plug in the bathroom sink? Only Akiko.
What is so fascinating about Akiko's body of work stems from seeing everyday objects as something particularly intriguing and of importance, for example, a safety pin, sink plug and spoon, asking inquisitive questions such as 'is a safety pin really safe?', or delving into the consumer mistrust within the jewellery industry by using one piece of genuine high quality Akoya pearl in a strand of imitation pearls.
I marveled at the way where she attached a cigarette made of silver onto a long disc-shaped black chain, when worn it seems innocuous, quirky even, but when laid on a flat surface the shape of the chain is transformed into a cigarette smoke.
Akiko's work force us to question, ponder, hesitate and think analytically, aiming to challenge herself as well as her audience to explore the possibility of jewellery being above and beyond its given identity and function, and to uncover what we consistently believed to be mundane and forgettable is actually an eye opener to our universal train of thoughts. I mean, who would compare the ball chain typically used in jewellery to a chain attached to the plug in the bathroom sink? Only Akiko.
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