Christel, van de Laan

Artist Statement

Christel van der Laan searches for carefully considered relationships between often disparate elements in her jewellery, with the intrinsic qualities of the materials as her starting point. There are two facets to her practice: the hand- carving of ceramic honeycomb components, a material from the jeweller's soldering bench, and the use of found materials.  Placed together, the mundane, the discarded, the overlooked and the precious, create new poetic possibilities and enable jewellery to be viewed in a different way.

Born in theNetherlands, van der Laan spent part of her childhood in South Africa before her family migrated to Australia.  She first gained international attention with her ‘Priceless’ series made from plastic swing tags.

Her work hasbeen exhibited in 1001 Remarkable Objects at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney and Facettes: Un Regard sur le Bijou Ceramique Giroussens, France in 2023, The Language of Things:  Meaning and Value in Contemporary Jewellery, Dowse Art Museum, NZ 2018,  A Fine Possession: Jewellery and Identity at the Powerhouse Museum Sydney in 2014 and Not Too Precious, Ruthin Craft Centrein Wales.  She has been collected by artmuseums such as the National Gallery of Australia, the art galleries of Western Australia and South Australia, the Swiss National Museum in Zurich and the Art, Architecture and Design Museum in Oslo.  Her work has also been featured in many books.

‍

Visit WebsiteView ResumeContact Artist

Christel, van de Laan

Selection of Works

'Harmony' Neckpiece. Materials, ceramic honeycomb, antique agates, antique red coral, white coral branch, 22ct gold, seashells, oxidised sterling silver Dimensions:11.5 x 10 x 2 cm (pendant) Year: 2024 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

'Sound of Then' Neckpiece. Materials, galvanised steel, ceramic honeycomb, antique door escutcheon, bone, vintage glass, 18ct gold, oxidised sterling silver Dimensions: 9 x 8.5 x 1.8 cm (pendant) Year: 2023 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

'Autumn' Neckpiece. Materials, galvanised steel, metal finish laminate, South Sea pearl, agate, rock crystal, 18ct gold, Victorian cut steel pins, seashell, oxidised sterling silver Dimensions:10 x 8 x .8 cm (pendant) Year:2024 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

'Little Loves' Brooch. Materials, Georgian coquilla nut container, dog cufflink, vintage glass, acrylic, ceramic honeycomb, oxidised silver. Dimensions: 7.5 x 8.5.x.2 cm Year:2023 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

'Winter Brooch' Materials, ceramic honeycomb dendritic agate, carnelian, coral, cut steel, oxidised sterling silver Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 1 cm Year:2023 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

'Harmony' Neckpiece. Materials, ceramic honeycomb, antique agates, antique red coral, white coral branch, 22ct gold, seashells, oxidised sterling silver Dimensions:11.5 x 10 x 2 cm (pendant) Year: 2024 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

'Sound of Then' Neckpiece. Materials, galvanised steel, ceramic honeycomb, antique door escutcheon, bone, vintage glass, 18ct gold, oxidised sterling silver Dimensions: 9 x 8.5 x 1.8 cm (pendant) Year: 2023 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

'Autumn' Neckpiece. Materials, galvanised steel, metal finish laminate, South Sea pearl, agate, rock crystal, 18ct gold, Victorian cut steel pins, seashell, oxidised sterling silver Dimensions:10 x 8 x .8 cm (pendant) Year:2024 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

'Little Loves' Brooch. Materials, Georgian coquilla nut container, dog cufflink, vintage glass, acrylic, ceramic honeycomb, oxidised silver. Dimensions: 7.5 x 8.5.x.2 cm Year:2023 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

'Winter Brooch' Materials, ceramic honeycomb dendritic agate, carnelian, coral, cut steel, oxidised sterling silver Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 1 cm Year:2023 Photo Credit: Robert Frith

Acknowledgement

JMGA WA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.

Become a Member

As a member of the JMGA WA you are entitled to a range of benefits and opportunities. Find out more here

To become a member please complete our membership form

© Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Australia, WA Incorporated
All images contained in this site are under automatic copyright to the artists. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of any image may be reproduced by any process without written permission of the artist.
Website by Construkt Design