The aim of my jewellery praxis is to discover if the creation of contemporary jewellery is a beneficial format of art therapy, specifically looking at its ability to alleviate my anxiety. My body of work underscores the idea that contemporary jewellery design can have a therapeutic and cathartic effect on me. I will define my work as therapeutic in its ability to create a sense of relief, understanding, and management of inner feelings and emotions. A state of catharsis is closely tied to an act deemed as therapeutic as catharsis is a release of repressed emotions, which in turn is necessary for those emotions to be analyzed and understood. My anxiety stems from the constant exposure to my father's long-standing health issues. The confrontation with the idea of mortality manifested itself into anxiety that has, at times, become debilitating. Owing to this, anxiety now runs into other aspects of my life, causing unnecessary worry and the overthinking of small issues. Thus, there is a need for an outlet, one in which I am able to express my emotions in a constructive manner.
In creating my body of work, I was able to consider my anxiety beyond transitional verbal communication. I was able to haptically explore my emotions in order to gain inner tacit knowledge. My art practice transformed into a modality from which I could withdraw from the commotion of life, and playfully and comfortably explore my inner thoughts and feelings. My jewellery pieces become material manifestations of my anxiety, as well as display the transformative power of art as a therapeutic intervention.
In creating my body of work, I was able to consider my anxiety beyond transitional verbal communication. I was able to haptically explore my emotions in order to gain inner tacit knowledge. My art practice transformed into a modality from which I could withdraw from the commotion of life, and playfully and comfortably explore my inner thoughts and feelings. My jewellery pieces become material manifestations of my anxiety, as well as display the transformative power of art as a therapeutic intervention.
