Memory + Travel: PaTTAYa, Thailand

MEMORY + TRAVEL:  PATTAYA, THAILAND (2017)

As the Earth shifts and molds beneath us, it beckons us to explore its landscapes and immerse ourselves in its diverse cultures. Our experiences with these places become memories—precious and fleeting, fading with time. Similarly, the places themselves, can change and eventually be forgotten. To preserve these moments, much like the Victorian mourning jewelry, I seek to capture these fleeting impressions in wearable art. This jewelry set is part of an ongoing series that explores the ephemeral nature of memory, sentimentality, and conservation; abstractly represented through topographic forms. 

Pattaya, Thailand. A bustling city surrounding a white sandy beach filled with hotels, Wats, and restaurants. The smell of fish clings to the warm, satly air. The din of conversation and robust music vibrates the chest. A place where kindness and acceptance is prioritized over a dollar. A place where everyone is entitled to a gesture of unconditional love, no matter how small. You can feel the vibrant wavelength of this special place through the vibrant colors of red, gold, lime green, yellow, and bright blue. 

Using a combination of traditional metal fabrication and new technology, I took patterns found in topographic maps of Pattaya, Thailand and proceeded to replicate, dissect, and rearrange them so that the shapes became a dynamic accumulation of form. These objects are made of a variety of materials that may include hand cut brass, silver, powdercoat, steel, and semi- precious stones. The laser engravings on the powdercoat are of those same topographic shapes. 

Pattaya, Thailand Necklace I

(2017) Laser engraved powder coat, Brass base, bronze granules, lace agate, steel findings, paracord chain. Front view