Ariel Lavian

Artist’s statement: The contemporary field of jewelry, which is based on the classic field, accords the artisan extensive freedom with regard to the techniques and materials he uses. In addition to the historical baggage that the jewel carries, the contemporary jewel is designed, among other things, to defy and raise questions about accepted status and beauty markers as well as a way to express a message, an idea, or even a protest, thereby expanding the craft into an art form. For me, the field of contemporary jewelry allows me to touch on issues that concern me in the course of my life, both emotionally and mentally, things that I am interested in referring to or responding to. I create with the materials that are around me, which are available to me and stimulate my thoughts. That being said, slowly over the recent years my heart and hands have fallen in love with copper and its ability to receive and respond. I work mainly with techniques that employ hammers: fold forming and raising. On the face of it, the two techniques look very similar. However, when you dive deep, each technique has its own uniqueness (and its own hammers). In addition, for the past eight years, I have specialized in various techniques for creating patinas on metal, as you see quite a bit in my works.