OUTSIDE OUR BOXES
NICOLA KNACKSTREDT & SASKIA DEN BRINKER
12–29 September

The artists’ creative relationship began at the Australian National University’s Gold & Silversmithing workshop in 2018. After art school, they participated in an exhibition with two former classmates and found great value in revisiting the creative and collaborative approach to making that they had missed since leaving. 

The artists decided to work together again for Radiant Pavilion—this time, the collaborative process takes the form of an art school ‘crit’.

With the knowledge and insight that comes from years of bearing witness to the development of each other’s practice, the artists decided to create a series of experimental works, starting with a pendant and then progressing through other forms of body adornment in the following order: stud earrings, a brooch, a ring, long earrings, a necklace, armwear, ear cuff and headwear. 

The process began with each artist providing a ‘prompt’ to the other to direct the concept behind three pieces, with a total of three prompts given for the series of nine works. Throughout the making process, the artists had regular conversations, providing feedback, advice and encouragement that guided the creation of new and dynamic work, taking the artists on a journey into the unknown.

Nicola Knackstredt is a Canberra-based emerging contemporary jeweller who studied Gold and Silversmithing at the Australian National University. Nicola’s work is made by hand in her studio at M16 Artspace in Canberra. In 2022, Nicola was a finalist in both Profile: Contemporary Jewellery and Object Award and the National Contemporary Jewellery Award.

Saskia den Brinker is an alumni of the Australian National Universities Gold and Silversmithing workshop and is now working from a private workshop in regional NSW. Saskia strives to incorporate contemporary and traditional jewellery making to create wearable, aesthetic and sustainable jewellery and objects.

Please join us for a drink to celebrate the opening of Outside our Boxes on Friday 13 September (6–9PM)

exhibition collection

Outside our Boxes is presented as part of Radiant Pavilion 2024, a Naarm/Melbourne Contemporary Jewellery and Object Biennial.