The guilloche technique, which involves mechanically engraving a very precise, complicated and repetitive pattern, is not designed for use on the surface of amber - the material sometimes cracks and the engraving lines become a little uneven. However, this does not bother me, because in this way I was able to bring out the softness of the amber and its naturalness," concluded Miriam Arentz.
Guilloche and enamel are two techniques to which the artist also devotes much attention in her work. Where did she get the idea to transfer them to works with amber? Primarily to create a personal version of jewellery with amber, but also to make the viewers look more carefully at its beauty. Guilloche is used in her works in a minimalist way - the author has limited herself to lines, abandoning the waves or other patterns characteristic of this technique that give the impression of a three-dimensional surface. These lines subtly emphasise the heterogeneous structure of the amber, bringing the images of natural patterns to life. This impression is deepened in a contrasting way - also due to the geometric shapes - by the expressive colours of the enamelled and guilloche silver surfaces in which the amber was set.
In jigsaw-like forms, I combined amber and enamelled silver, juxtaposing the past with the present and building a dialogue between them. Working with colour brought out the beauty of the yellow shades of amber and highlighted the beauty of each piece in an individual way. I like to combine different materials and thus create new entities - archetypes of things that are recognisable in their simplicity, regardless of the times in which they were created.
Miriam Arentz - German jewellery artist. After studying cultural studies in Berlin, she graduated in 2005 with a degree in design from the University of Applied Sciences and Art (HAWK) in Hildesheim, studying among others with Professor Georg Dobler. She has participated in several group exhibitions, competitions and exhibition events throughout Europe. Since 2018, she has participated in the Schmuck verbindet project at the Museum of Technology in Berlin, where she teaches students and jewellery artists about ancient manufacturing techniques, such as guilloche or enamel. She reached for amber for the first time - half a kilogram of raw amber material and the opportunity to present the collection created from it in the MSB Gallery is the Amber Prize awarded by the International Amber Association in International Goldsmiths„ Art Competition ”Touch" as part of the Legnica SILVER Festival in 2022.
Traces of time - exhibition of amber jewellery by Miriam Arentz
Gallery of the International Amber Association in Gdansk
18.08 – 17.11.2023
Curator: Małgorzata Siudak
The exhibition will be accompanied by photographs of jewellery made by Kinga Gebdon-Czech
