Reclaiming These Clichés of Beauty

In a previous post I featured work from artist jeweler Lola Brooks, including a brooch from her Confection exhibit which I absolutely loved at first sight. I want to eat those vintage ivory roses. Well, silly me neglected to click on her exhibit link on the Sienna Gallery website, and if I had I would have seen that this was but one of her several stainless steel and gold treasures adorned with roses and bows (again, thank you, Molly).

I'll admit, after reading the artist statement for her exhibit, I'm not exactly sure what she's saying. I think she's left it somewhat up to the viewer to determine the meaning but through her own words and several quotes pertaining to roses, she certainly guides us to consider certain possibilities. Here's something to ponder:

Roses and bows have come to exist as saccharine clichés of beauty, sentiment, perfection and the feminine. In fact, much of their symbolism has become so hackneyed as to have lost much of its meaning. In its absence, we are left with vapid empty shells, mere shadows of their former vainglorious selves.

 

And then there are quotes endorsing the virtues of the extraordinary flower:

I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.
-Emma Goldman

 

There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all of the roses ever painted.
-Henri Matisse

Ah, but who knows. Lola Brooks may come across this and think "It's so obvious what I mean, you idiot!" (I'm sure she's kinder than that but I hope she would accept that I think her pieces are exceptionally beautiful and I would still think so even if they were really supposed to be representative of rotting cabbages.)

Update: Lola Brooks saw the post and got in touch to thank me (phew!) and offered a much appreciated response to the question about the meaning of her statement:

"My statement is rather ambiguous, and purposefully so. As you stated quite aptly I am more interested in guiding one to consider certain possibilities than trying to impose some conclusion upon the viewer/wearer.

I think a lot about what I am making and why, but in the end I am far more interested in the curiosities it creates in others."

She also offers one bit of info not obvious in the images, that "many of the roses and bows are set en tremblant, on little springs which give them a rather ridiculous and delightful quiver when worn." How wonderful!

 

More pieces from her delicious Confection exhibition at Sienna Gallery, all made of 18kt gold, stainless steel, vintage ivory roses, and rose-cut champagne diamonds (how I would love to own one not even to wear but to hold in my hand and admire):

                       

                                                   BROOCH
                                   

                   
                                                      EARBOBS

                                

                  
                                     

                                                

                                     Detail, inside of large brooch

 

                           

                

                                                      RING

                                                         

                               

                  

    

                                                        NECKPIECE

                                                                                             

 

    Detail, inside largest brooch

 

 

Comments

[Molly Vogel`]

I believe that it is your feelings of admiration for the beauty of this work that allows it to work in an intellectual way in the first place. The preconceptions and notions of beauty that exist within you as well as many others are almost proof for what Lola Brooks is saying. In a way it seems to me that the fact that her work is incredibly beautiful and feminine looks towards raising the question of why? Through these particular material hierarchies that she has chosen she is able to simply make all of us ask more questions about hierarchies that have existed for a long time.

[Denise]

How fascinating to be prompted to think about the 'why' rather than simply view it as just another pretty thing. The simple fact that there is so much thought behind this fabrication of beauty (and not just some random meaningless association thrown out there for faux-credibility as can be the case with clothing designers) makes it all the more special. Thank you for keeping the discussion going and adding to it so thoughtfully.

By the way, Lola Brooks got in touch and I'm going to post what she said about her meaning. I was thrilled to hear from her! Denise xx

[Nicole]

wow the details on these peices are amazing! i love when peices are amazing because then you can look at them when you are bored!