Intervals collection by Jin Ah Jo
Artist Jin Ah Jo recently launched her new precious collection exclusively at e.g.etal, translating her industrial aesthetic into a collection of rings that seek to celebrate a life full of meaningful experiences. We asked Jin Ah to share her inspiration and process.
What does the collection’s title ‘Intervals’ mean to you?
On my finger I have four gold stack rings that I always wear. They consist of two engagement rings, one wedding ring I made for myself that matches the wedding ring I made for my husband, and lastly the ring my mother bought for me when I was 1 year old, to be inherited someday when this baby becomes a mum. These rings represent short and long intervals of time, special meanings and emotional values, stories that are different but harmonising. So my main goal for this collection was to create a story for the pieces.
The rings in the ‘Intervals’ collection fit together, allowing you to build your own narrative. People will not only receive one ring in their life, they may receive or collect many rings that matter at different intervals. Engagement, wedding, first child, graduation … every life changing event can be reflected in beautiful hand crafted rings that join to grow your story. ‘Intervals’ can refer to the spaces in the different designs, as well reminding you of the moments in life that come between events.
What inspired you most in the creation of these pieces?
After I made a series of model rings I had a meeting with e.g.etal director Emma Goodsir and gallery manager Addie Leven to get some feedback and advice. It was such a great meeting. From that point I started to consider the value of meaningful events in our lives. I moved from just stacking rings to creating rings which fit together to give the collection considerably more emotional value. This provides the possibility of customising the rings to follow an individual’s life experiences, events and stories.
The concept that “form follows function and vice versa” is always at the centre of my work. And I have realised “less is more” in making rings.
Why did you decide to develop a precious collection?
Before I migrated to Australia I worked for a wedding jewellery company in Korea. I was mesmerised by how people considered the value of wedding and engagement jewellery to be more important than the aesthetics. Sometimes the clients did not really care about the beauty, individuality and emotional value of the collections. They only cared about the size of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls.
Even though i had no background in art and design at that time I vaguely started to illustrate the precious collection I would like to develop someday. After moving to Australia I studied and became a metals and jewellery artist. Through the years I have established my own original jewellery collection. It was a long and sometimes hard way to do it but I can honestly say that I have also built up good confidence to believe in my ideas and aesthetics. Developing a precious collection has been a long term project. It reflects my love of geometry and deconstructed and reconstructed form, which illuminate the values of preciousness in the collection.
How does the process of creating precious rings differ from your previous work?
In my non-precious work I use perforated mild steel, often used for industrial or architectural purposes. I transform this material from its manufacturing origins into a wearable piece of contemporary jewellery that explores form and space. I am now transitioning these industrial aesthetics into my collection of precious rings.
When I am making my non-precious work, I depend on my knowledge and intuition, experimenting with materials and forms, colours (powder coated and heated and blackened) as much as possible to see how far I can go with them. However, for precious rings that use materials like gold, diamonds and gemstones I definitely need an accurate plan, knowledge of every material and technique I use, and flawless technical execution to make perfect work. It is absolutely challenging and out of my comfort zone. It is definitely worth doing as I call myself jeweller and there is so much to learn.
What drives you to make and create jewellery?
Because I love it. Even under the pressure of deadline or all other various challenges in life in general, every morning whenever I go to the studio I am always excited about what I am going to make for today. The hours I spend at the studio are precious. It’s when I can really be myself and free from everything else. It is the time where I can find focus and balance in life.
