Haunted by 36 women
Bracelet „Icecream Girl“ from the series „Haunted by 36 women“ by Ted Noten, 2009.
The reputation of Ted Noten is based on his unconventional and innovative way of developing jewellery and the special way he widens the field. Works of Ted Noten can be seen in Villa de Bondt in Ghent, Belgium, until May 8.
Ted Noten has been able to unite all the disciplines in which he works, within one concept: Design, applied arts and visual arts. The possibilities that arise, are used to the max. It is a radical contemporary interpretation of the ancient craft of the goldsmith. He is best known for the acrylic rings, brooches and necklaces in which he uses polished gemstones just as easily as he uses insects and mice. His controversial attitude shows in the acrylic handbags he makes (often referring to the behavioural codes of the world of the rich and famous), where besides numerous rings, he regularly casts a gun or a line of cocaine.
Atelier Ted Noten: „Salamander Bracelet“, 2009. Salamander, gold, diamond, acrylic.
One of his latest ideas was to develop 36 rings for as many specific types of women: the Femme Fatale, the nymphomaniac, the Suffragette, the Fashionista, the Shy. All clichés, archetypes and dreams are shown. From each archetype, Noten makes an associative portrait: a monumental collage, with sometimes more, sometimes less relevant “objects trouvés”. The connection between the materials used and traditional jewellery is lost: they materials range from shoes and tires, to porcelain figurines and plush toy animals.
Noten has exchanged his role as a visual artist for that of a jewellery designer when he changes the scale of the compositions of the original sculptures on the computer and makes objects in all possible materials and finishes. Heavily scaled-down versions become suitable to be worn around a finger or the wrist. On the basis of each collage is ultimately produced only one piece of gold jewellery. The designer comes into play when the same techniques are used to develop small batches in steel, nylon or titanium. Above all, the computer technology also provides the unprecedented luxury of producing rings and bracelets at exactly the right size.
A monumental collage is transformed into rings and bracelets.
The golden ring „Pig“ is unique. Atelier Ted Noten, 2009.
„Pig Bracelet“, 2009. All photos by Ted Noten, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
In the past, Ted Noten captured reality in acrylic; with this project reality only lent its shape and meaning. The unparalleled detail the production technology allows the rich array of associations of the original objects to be captured, and the miniaturization adds an unexpected mystery. With this project Ted Noten does not only seduce the 36 women, but he also seduces the lover of gold as well as a broader audience.
The exhibition in Villa de Bondt in Ghent, Belgium, still runs until May 8. Krijgslaan 124, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. www.villadebondt.be
