CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
As emphasized in contemporary neurobiology (van der Kolk, 2014), the integration of traumatic memory requires “witnessing” to prevent the fragmentation of the memory, without a witness, human brain’s introception destabilizes. However, there are pains that bypass words.
The ring intervenes at this point of collapse.It proposes that if no human witness is present, can jewelery become a prosthetic witness?
Untill I do is an engaement ring that replaces the social contract with a biological one. The title subverts the traditional wedding vow. The piece begins with a potassium alum growed sea sponge, set in the band with a tiny vessel to collect the chemistry of the nervous system. The vessel and the tubes feeds the sponge with tears (saline, cortisol, prolcatin, enkephalin, ACTH), mirroring the internal release of supressed grief. In medicine, potassium alum stops the flow of blood, in Until I do, it represents emotional clotting. What was crystalized, brakes down, what was hardened softens.
The ring does not rely on external validaiton, it becomes a loyal witness to the wearer’s solitary journey.
The ring intervenes at this point of collapse.It proposes that if no human witness is present, can jewelery become a prosthetic witness?
Untill I do is an engaement ring that replaces the social contract with a biological one. The title subverts the traditional wedding vow. The piece begins with a potassium alum growed sea sponge, set in the band with a tiny vessel to collect the chemistry of the nervous system. The vessel and the tubes feeds the sponge with tears (saline, cortisol, prolcatin, enkephalin, ACTH), mirroring the internal release of supressed grief. In medicine, potassium alum stops the flow of blood, in Until I do, it represents emotional clotting. What was crystalized, brakes down, what was hardened softens.
The ring does not rely on external validaiton, it becomes a loyal witness to the wearer’s solitary journey.
By the time the crystal is gone and only the sponge remains, the wearer is left with a physcial manifestation of their own resilience. The more you grieve into it, the sponge empties and so do you.
Testifying and erasing.
Holding and releasing.
Untill you are left with a sponge inside a gold vessel. The ring does not tell you when to let go, your body does. The body is precise, it has always knewn.
Testifying and erasing.
Holding and releasing.
Untill you are left with a sponge inside a gold vessel. The ring does not tell you when to let go, your body does. The body is precise, it has always knewn.
PROCESS
FIRST PIECE
FINAL PIECE
