Great Blue Hole is a necklace inspired by the marine sinkhole of the same name in Belize. The design translates a large natural landscape into a wearable sculptural form. Layered metal components are raised on wires of varying lengths to create dimensional volume and depth. Sawing, casting, enameling, stone setting, chasing and repousse were used to build the forms and surface textures. The necklace measures 130 mm in width, 15 mm in depth and 75 mm in height, with a pearl string of 450 mm. Movement of the body shifts light across the layers.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This piece reinterprets a monumental marine formation as a wearable sculptural structure through layered metal construction and dimensional assembly. Its distinction lies in translating vast geological space into an intimate bodily dimension, where organic irregularity is balanced with controlled craftsmanship to create a tactile landscape experience.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 130 mm x Depth 15 mm x Height 75 mm
Pearl string length 450 mm - Tags
- silver, necklace, jewelry, natural
- Production Technology
- This work involved selecting materials corresponding to the site's visual and spatial characteristics and conducting extensive texture studies. Test pieces were produced to experiment with varied surface treatments and forms. To achieve the desired atmosphere within a limited scale, appropriate techniques were carefully selected. In addition to piecing and sawing, casting, enameling, stone setting, chasing, and repousse were employed. Components were elevated using wires of varying lengths to create dimensional volume and layered depth.
- Design Challenge
- The primary challenge was developing a structural system capable of integrating diverse elements into a cohesive form. To achieve the intended atmosphere, careful planning was required for stone placement, setting techniques, and layering. Establishing the correct order of fabrication was critical. Through extensive trial and error, I refined the composition so that each element could coexist harmoniously while retaining its individual presence.
- Project Duration
- The project started in August 2018 in New York, USA, and was completed in May 2019.
- Operation Flow
- Due to its layered colors and condensed elements, the piece offers tactile detail and visual richness to both wearer and viewer. As the body moves, shifting light and depth create subtle variations in perception, inviting closer observation. By bringing a distant landscape into intimate proximity, the work provides a subtle sense of refreshment.
- Research
- This project represents a research process aimed at translating distinctive natural landscapes and geological formations into the form of jewelry. Through the harmonious arrangement of diverse materials and techniques, I experimented to determine the optimal color relationships, proportions, and structural balance that could effectively convey the site's atmosphere and defining characteristics. The research also explored multiple approaches to articulating organic forms within a controlled metal framework, seeking methods to express natural irregularity with clarity and precision.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the Great Blue Hole in Belize, I was drawn to its ultramarine depth and the diverse ecosystems surrounding it. Through visual research and material experimentation, I sought not only to extract its visual characteristics but also to convey the site's atmosphere and sense of mystery. By combining various materials and metalworking techniques, I harmoniously translated a distant, life filled marine environment into an intimate wearable scale.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.
Image #2: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.
Image #3: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.
Image #4: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.
Image #5: Photographer Jung Ki Min, Great Blue Hole, 2019.
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