Lucie Popelka Houdková

Lucie Popelka Houdková’s brooch from the “Deep” series distills motion and structure into a remarkably compact form. Using layered paper, silver, and stainless steel, the work draws immediate visual comparisons to sea life. Its curvilinear folds pulse outward from a central aperture, forming three dimensional spirals that seem both frozen and alive. The gradation from deep black to soft ivory intensifies this sensation of movement, like tidal currents captured mid flow.

Formally, the piece echoes the organic symmetry of Ernst Haeckel’s scientific illustrations, grounding abstraction in natural history. Its repetition and rhythm suggest growth patterns, while its scale invites intimacy. Though crafted of paper, the brooch conveys surprising structural integrity and resilience, much like its coral inspirations. This tension between fragility and strength enhances the symbolic resonance of transformation, a central theme in both nature and adornment.