Token of Esteem

This jewellery artist’s work is more than just decorative, writes Patrick Watson

Socrates said you don’t get friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love. If that’s true, jewellery maker Michael Hofmeyer must have quite a few good mates.

Hofmeyer, 52, is a contemporary jewellery maker who thinks all ornaments should have a purpose.

His jewellery exhibition, Life Tokens, at the Museum of Brisbane, proves that his craft can be more than just a series of shiny pretty things, but meaningful works in their own right.

Life Tokens is a series of eight medals and 36 pieces of jewellery.

They’re all hand-made, many using the goldsmithing techniques known as repoussé and chasing. Hofmeyer believes there’s a place in modern society for commemorating life’s big occasions.

“I wanted to offer people an alternative way of recording events, in a way that’s more contemporary,” he says.

“The working of jewellery lent me to the idea of life tokens. I like that because I can make compositions that express these sentiments like appreciation, friendship, marriage and birth.”

Hofmeyer, who has been exhibiting for 10 years and who began jewellery making in 1980, says the European tradition of tokens, or life medals, has not yet found a place in Australia.

Which is something he’s trying to change, travelling to Italy in 1995 to continue his studies.

“I called them life tokens because five years ago a couple commissioned me to make some for their marriage. They commissioned four to give,” he explains.

“I’m able to create something that has power and beauty, but with a very small scale. It’s like a miniature sculptural object.

“There’s something about composition and the resolution of ideas so that I end up with something that’s both wearable and not just interesting, but expresses ideas.”

Unlike much commercial work, Hofmeyer’s jewellery is stylistic and labour intensive. He creates moulds using hand-made tools, which he can then cast in any metal he wishes.

“Because my primary interest is contemporary work and movement, it’s been a kind of long journey of acquiring techniques. But I try to free myself up from those techniques so I can be creative and playful with the work,” he says.

“The role of traditional work is a signifier of wealth. Often with contemporary art you can use any kind of material. I want to make these affordable but meaningful.”

Image caption: Meaningful… jewellery designer Michael Hofmeyer believes his craft should have a purpose, and, (inset) two of his life tokens.