Ra!

Paul Derrez owns the oldest running jewellery gallery in the Netherlands. He is also a maker which sets him apart from the other galleries. Today we talked with him about juggling making one's own work and exhibiting the work of others, amongst other things. 

He explained his ideas about jewellery by using the recent work of Noon Passama as an example. Passama, a recent graduate from the Rietveld Academie, has worked with digital technology and manufacturers in Asia to produce this body of work. Later this week at Galerie Wittenbrink we will see the most recent part in her button project which she has developed since 2008. The work on the mannequin is also Noon's, from her graduation collection.

Noon Passama, brooches, silver, brass, copper, plastic.

The major exhibition of jewellery was from Iris Tsante, who has used coloured pencils as a material. While several other artists have done this (Tom Friedman, Lionel Bawden) Iris's necklaces become a delightful exploration of colour, with undertones of non-western patterning.

Iris Tsante, necklaces.

It was exciting to see Ra in its new incarnation. The change of style was fresh and the location brings it closer to the cluster of jewellery venues around the Grimburgwal.