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Jewellery Studio Mia Straka My understanding of contemporary jewellery is as an artistic discipline where the work contains concept and method. I place value primarily on the care, thought and skill invested in the making of jewellery and the connections people make with it. Jewellery that is treasured as a symbol of meaning deserves this consideration. My way of working is driven both conceptually and by process. Some pieces seem to grow as I make them, the construction delineating the form. Other works are carefully planned and designed before fabrication begins. Mia Straka has been making contemporary jewellery since 2001. Her work is not only beautifully crafted, it’s considered design and construction illustrates ideas and holds meaning. My understanding of contemporary jewellery is as an artistic discipline where the work contains concept and method. Mia draws from a wealth of traditional metalsmithing techniques passed down through centuries to reinforce her knowledge, to branch out and explore her own way of making. Historically jewellery has often been primarily a signifier of wealth and social status, much contemporary jewellery seeks to question these values. I place value primarily on the care, thought and skill invested in the making of jewellery and the connections people make with it. Jewellery that is treasured as a symbol of meaning deserves this consideration. This meticulous attention to detail is revealed in the work, the careful use of material and techniques conspire to produce jewellery where the aesthetic decisions embody the content. A pounamu pebble is clasped in a silver pod, centred within sinuous tendrils of a cross. The cross seems more plant-like than ecclesiastical yet retains the air of a sacred object. Creating a piece from inception to completion allows constant creative and technical decision-making individual to each piece. My way of working is driven both conceptually and by process. Some pieces seem to grow as I make them, the construction delineating the form. Other works are carefully planned and designed before fabrication begins. Mia’s jewellery is often a response to events in her own life, the process of making flowing from a need to express personal experiences and reactions. A desire to explore ‘the space between’ pervades her practice. Overlapping yet often conflicting notions such as; protection and restriction, the private and public, provoke questions and inspire different perceptions. Recent work has become increasingly sculptural, references to New Zealand’s distinctive landscape can be found in curvaceous forms and twisted molten metal. These sit against the skin inviting conversation between land and body. Mia’s exploration of form and movement is sensitive to jewellery’s place. A reticulated neckpiece curves around the nape of the neck responding to the wearer’s movement and shaping to fit the body. Mia’s practice includes jewellery for exhibitions, small collections for selected stockists and work to commission. All work is original and made in New Zealand. www.miastraka.com |
