The idea for the amber brooch „Suctus” was born in the mind of the Dutch artist Ruudt Peters during his research into… a black hole. „I perceived a relationship between the beginning and the end of life. Infants are washed in a little tub, the bodies of the dead are placed in a coffin – both have a more or less similar shape. Inspired by my discovery, I recreated this shape in the form of jewellery, using the effect of light concentration – it reflects off the walls and, concentrated, is ‘sucked’ by the amber to the lower surface beneath the stone. When the jewellery lies on a table, the concentrated reflection of the light passing through the amber is visible on the table, whereas when the jewellery is worn, the light reflects off the gilded walls, warmed by the warm colour of the amber,” he explains.
„Suctus” can be translated as suction, but also temptation and seduction. Light is what guides us, encourages us to delve deeper, to follow a secret hidden deep down, to seek the primal source of human souls. This brooch is like a mirror in which everyone can see themselves. It is a vessel filled with our personal stories, experiences, imaginations... It is the essence of life reflected in jewellery.
The first amber brooch from the „Suctus” collection was created for the exhibition of works by artists from all over world inspired by Leonardo da Vinci and amber, entitled „Amber & Leonardo”, presented for the first time in March 2018 at the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in St. John's Church in Gdańsk (initiator: Wojciech Kalandyk, curator: Giedymin Jabłoński). „I agreed to accept the invitation of the exhibition organisers on the condition that I received ready-cut and polished amber – in my hands it broke immediately, I thought I was going to go mad,” recalls Ruudt Peters. However, amber fascinated him – especially the way light penetrates it, but also „the romantic way in which many creators use it”. So he quickly went from hatred to love and expanded the collection with a few more amber objects. Currently, „Suctus” features brooches not only with amber, but also with other stones and in various forms.
Ruudt Peters – Dutch visual artist and jewellery designer. One of his key working methods is wandering through various cultures, drawing on their customs, history, religion or philosophy to express all of this in the form of jewellery, after filtering it through his own emotions, artistic sensitivity and imagination. These are not ordinary interpretations, however – they are self-portraits in a sense, as each one contains a significant element of the creator. He is fascinated by the mystery that he conceals beneath many layers within his jewellery – as he himself admits, the viewer must put in a certain amount of work to uncover this mystery.
More information: Ruudt Peters
Recommended: Amber & Leonardo exhibition in the Netherlands