The Cicely & Colin Rigg Contemporary Design Award 2006

Susan Cohn

Artist statement

Last the Blast is jewellery designed to survive a bomb blast. Drawing on army dog tags, aeroplane black box data-protectors and memorial jewellery, this simple object will protect personal data and a private message of the wearer during a disaster. Two titanium message tags are protected by ceramic insulation fibre inside stainless steel. Key details are engraved on one tag and this data will help identify a casualty. The wearer inscribes their own text – for instance, a personal message or a security code for a flash drive – onto the second tag. Both inscribed tags are embedded inside the ceramic insulation-fibre, then sealed with ceramic cement and a fingerprint. This special piece of jewellery can be worn around the neck, pinned to clothing or carried in a pocket. Last the Blast offers an unsuspecting bomb victim the opportunity to send a message to their love ones.