The Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award 2006

Julia deVille

Artist statement

My jewellery is inspired by the memento mori jewellery of the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries and Victorian mourning jewellery. I find the acceptance of death in these periods fascinating. I work predominantly in jet, a petrified wood historically used in Victorian mourning jewellery, recycled components and taxidermy, designed to serve as memento mori, or reminder of our mortality. I use the symbols of death throughout my work because I think it is important to identify with the concept that we are in fact mortal creatures. The nature of our culture is to obsess over planning the future, however in doing so, we forget to enjoy the present.Through taxidermy I challenge my audience to reassess the way our society views the uses of animals for art and fashion. I use only creatures that have died of natural causes to accentuate this point.