Présenté | Parure Phantôme

Présenté | Parure Phantôme

"Every year the jewellery department of the Rietveld Art Academy in Amsterdam organizes their graduation exhibition. An excellent moment to look for exciting, new talent. Last year - the class of 2014 - our attention was caught by an exceptional necklace at the presentation of Bram Wouters." - Ward Schrijver (© Galerie Rob Koudijs)

Autonomic nervous system

"Little was predictable about it: a lot of wires and little glass spheres, and instead of sparking diamonds, the piece glowed in its own light. Perhaps it wasn't quite ready yet, but that was more than compensated by the makers commitment and enthousiasm. Just a few months later Wouters showed up at the gallery. He had started more-or-less anew and, driven by perseverance, had made several parures: sets of matching necklaces, brooches and bracelets. Though referring to traditional jewellery, the work is very much of the 21st century. And the system works! The pieces have been fitted with a refined solution for the miniature battery, and each light bulb was carefully adapted and supplied with an indestructible led-light. And that's not the end of it. In the words of the artist: 'This jewellery has its own autonomic nervous system; the lights turn on and off in reaction to movement. In that way they are akin to a living being.' It seems a push in an unexpected direction, but actually, what is the difference with the play of light in cut diamonds that constantly attracts our eye?" - Ward Schrijver (© Galerie Rob Koudijs)