e.g.etal - contemporary jewellery and objects

Giovanni Esteban del Monserrat

Bali, Indonesia

As a self-taught jeweller, Giovanni believes that the intention of the artisan is held in the molecules of the metal; each mark is a thought, each detail is an incarcerated memory. While undertaking a residency at JamFactory in Adelaide, Giovanni produced a range of jewellery for e.g.etal. The series took its name from the Quetzal, a bird native to Central and South America, known for its iridescent plumage and veneration in Aztec and Mayan culture.

Giovanni has been inspired by the cultural aesthetics, history and mysticism of his Latin American heritage in creating his series, Quetzal, which debuted at e.g.etal in 2011. Giovanni’s pieces are studded with natural stones that are set in contemporary jewellery made by employing traditional techniques such as forging, fusing and punching. Patterns, metals and gems are literally beaten into bands. The visceral process results in markings that are delicate and nuanced but still carry traces of the intuitive method of production.

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