See/ Unexpected Pleasures/ 5 December 2012 to 3 March 2013
London
General Information
In the museum’s first ever show dedicated to jewellery, Unexpected Pleasures celebrates the work of prominent UK and international contemporary jewellers, showcasing over 200 objects from around the world. It challenges the conventional function of jewellery as a symbol of status, sentimentality and taste – forcing the limits of human adornment. Can a ring manufactured to mimic a finger blister be considered a thing of beauty? Does the migration of the iPod from the pocket to the lapel cross the role of industrial designer with jeweller? Does plastering gold leaf to the gums mean the beginning of true self-expression and the ‘end of the trend’?
The exhibition explores jewellery from the point of view of both the maker and the wearer. It considers the pleasures of wearing jewellery and the many meanings associated with jewellery which are at times unpredictable and, in turn, unexpected. The exhibition is presented through a number of themes: Worn Out – celebrating the experience of wearing jewellery, Linking Links – looking at the ways in which meaning and narratives are expressed in jewellery and A Fine Line – offering insight into the origins of contemporary jewellery today, highlighting key instigators of the contemporary jewellery movement.
Curated by jewellery designer and maker Dr. Susan Cohn, the exhibition features over 130 prominent UK and international jewellers including:
• David Watkins
• Wendy Ramshaw
• Caroline Broadhead
• Hans Stofer
• Mah Rana
• Otto Kunzli
• Gijs Bakker
• Ted Noten
• Helen Britton
• Paul Derrez
• Dorothea Pruhl
• Esther Knobel
• Mari Funaki
• Karl Fritsch
• Lisa Walker
Ticketing Information
ADULT £11 / CONCESSION£10 / STUDENT £7 students
From 1 January 2013 ticket prices change to the following:
ADULT £11.85 / CONCESSION £10.70 / STUDENT£7.50
