Covert Jewels - Harbouring secrets

Resident Metalab artist Cinnamon Lee has yet again assembled an extraordinary array of rings in her latest exhibition Covert Jewels.

For this exhibition Cinnamon continues her investigation into the elusive world of digital design processes in conjunction with traditional gold and silversmithing techniques, creating works that both reveal and conceal.

Rings in particular have for centuries remained carriers of profound meanings, and regardless of their outward appearances are often imbued with private or even secret values. Covert Jewels therefore aims to highlight the furtive nature of such precious objects, and pay tribute to the undeniable allure of concealment

 

 The combined application of digital manufacturing and precious metal casting allows for a new approach to designing objects, where the boundaries of metal fabrication are expanded beyond their conventional limitations. Lee’s work deliberately exploits the inherent capabilities of these techniques to create a collection of finger rings whose individual personalities have been deliberately introverted - thus providing inconspicuous secrets for their wearers rather than their viewers.

While demonstrating Cinnamon's evolving expertise using digital design processes within the contemporary craft sphere, Covert Jewels also presents a unique amalgamation of her jewellery and lighting design practices. The illuminated installation of these rings is integral to the exhibition concept and contributes to conveying a heightened sense of curiosity by provoking within the audience a desire for closer inspection. The display system incorporates pre-programmed LEDs that individually light up the internal surfaces of each ring, drawing attention to their otherwise covert nature.

 

Bio.

Cinnamon Lee is a Sydney artist who has specialised in employing new technologies to augment her metalsmithing practice since 2000. Over the past decade she has continued this research culminating in the acquisition of a Master of Philosophy degree in Visual Art from The Australian National University in 2010. While the research undertaken during this study focussed specifically on the decorative potential of electronic lighting technologies, her jewellery practice has concurrently continued to scrutinise the new possibilities offered by digital technologies within a craft context. Lee continues to exhibit both nationally and internationally and has had a number of works acquired by The National Gallery of Australia.