This piece by Carolin Denter is an example of how contemporary jewelry uses traditional ideas of adornment to create deep reflections on memory, materiality, and storytelling. This necklace, Exploding Grandma III, is composed of a dense, tangled cluster of pearls and at its center are mismatched components like chains, antique clasps, and fragments of metal and glass. The work speaks to themes of accumulation, disruption, and the passage of time.
The pearls, traditionally associated with elegance and purity, are transformed into a chaotic mass, suggesting a tension between order and disorder. Their arrangement symbolizes the complexities of personal histories or the emotional weight carried by objects over time. The disparate materials interwoven throughout the necklace evoke the idea of a curated collection of remnants, each element potentially holding its own narrative or significance. Together, they create a piece that feels simultaneously fragmented and unified.
Denter’s work challenges the notion of jewelry as merely decorative. Instead, it operates as a sculptural and conceptual form, inviting viewers to consider the layers of meaning that objects can carry. This necklace becomes not just an accessory but an archive. It is a reflection of the interplay between identity, material culture, and the boundary between the precious and the discarded. It’s a piece that draws attention to its own making, revealing a story of assembly, connection, and the potential beauty found in imperfection.
Eating Diamonds 