The following review of an exhibition of work by award-winning master jeweller Michael Hofmeyer appeared in The Courier Mail, September 23, 1998 [Arts] [ Toggle the review as image or text-only ]
Inspiring Craft
Expression and Adornment, an exhibition of jewellery by Michael Hofmeyer, Jan Murphy Gallery, 486 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. Until September 26
By Jeff Shaw
With an extensive background as an art dealer in Melbourne and Brisbane, mainly concerned with paintings and prints, Jan Murphy has now taken an interesting step into the crafts arena.
Her newish Jan Murphy Gallery has invited Melbourne-born jeweller Michael Hofmeyer to display his recent work as her first craft exhibiter. Following work in Perth and Adelaide and fresh from a year's study with 85-year-old Florentine goldsmith Professor Bino Bini, Hofmeyer says he was delighted to have learnt so much of traditional techniques, which he now seeks to combine with his own contemporary design.
An Arts Queensland grant awarded earlier this year for the production and exhibition of an innovative body of work has enabled Hofmeyer to establish his first solo exhibition in Brisbane.
The work identifies largely with the techniques of repousse and chasing he was able to explore in the Florentine studio. Repousse refers to the decorative metal technique of hammering out a low-relief form from the reverse side of a metal sheet, while chasing involves the use of relief elements of design created with a chisel on the metal surface.
The results are at once educational and inspirational. Hofmeyer has taken these traditional techniques, combined with metal folding and some almost elementally simple design motifs, to produce an impressive body of work.
Symbols, simple plants forms and flowing lines feature largely. Photographic panels above the jewellery illustrate the source of some of the designs.
Hofmeyer explains that one panel of his brooches was inspired by these photographic images, the work of an early avant-garde German photographer, Karl Blossfeldt who "had the unique gift of capturing in close-up photography the intrinsic sculptural configurations of plant forms."
The culmination of six months' work, this varied exhibition of nearly 60 items, includes bangles, bracelets, brooches, earrings, cufflinks and rings. Many items are hand-worked prototypes for later cast units and interesting evidence of the making process may be discerned, particularly in the employment of chasing and folding techniques in some of the rings.
Of particular interest are pieces made during the term of the grant, such as the Symbol Bracelet with repousse design features and an ingenious articulated linkage allowing a controlled flexibility in the unit. A brooch in 9ct and 18ct gold with freshwater pearl ligulate is another unique piece.
While the designs may be said to have nuanaces of past eras and evidence of a concentration on technique, the overall impression is of work with individuality and a strong sense of direction. This is a fine start for a new craft venue.
Pictured: Nuances of past eras... a 9ct gold ring.
