Tobias Rehberger. It’s Very Warm When the Sun Comes Out
Based in Switzerland, GEMS AND LADDERS merges artistic creation with handcrafted goods, resulting in jewellery that is a wearable work of art. The brand is constantly inviting contemporary artists to join its roster and collaborate on new pieces with a fresh approach. Here, we look at five of our favourite artist-designed accessories from the brand.
Tobias Rehberger. It’s Very Warm When the Sun Comes Out
Tobias Rehberger
German artist Tobias Rehberger has constructed a series of waist chains for his GEMS AND LADDERS collaboration. “It’s very warm when the sun comes out” demonstrates his playful side, and encapsulates two decades of the artists work. The idea of the chains is for them to worn as private treasures – the jewels, first worn in the Berlin Biennale in 1998, could only be shown by the wearers if someone asked to see them.
Lawrence Weiner. Human Rights Adornment
Lawrence Weiner
Lawrence Weiner’s “Human Rights Adornment” concentrates on the relationship between objects and human beings. His sentiments are clear though his anodised aluminium and stainless steel necklaces, which are embellished with the phrases “Perhaps they don’t matter at all” and “Perhaps they do”.
Thomas Hirschhorn. Ideological Jewellery
Thomas Hirschhorn
Switzerland’s 2011 Venice Biennale representative Thomas Hirschhorn has carved meaningful texts into birch wood medallions set onto wooden chains for his GEMS AND LADDERS project. The three options, each declaring phrases such as “Energy = Yes! Quality = No”, “Friendship between Art and Philosophy” and “Love, Philosophy, Aesthetics, Politics” can be worn on their own, or as a cluster for maximum impact.
Lutz & Guggisberg. Collection of six charms
Lutz & Guggisberg
Swiss duo Andres Lutz and Anders Guggisberg have made a series of charms under their moniker Lutz & Guggisberg. Producing five gold variations and one silver, the charms are derived from a 3D scan, further sculpted in wax. The scans show the artists wearing a costume previously featured in their performance work, where they embodied the characters of a physicist, an alchemist, an astronomer, a juggler, a philosopher and even a little Pope.
Tobias Madison. Die Trotzwinkel
Tobias Madison
Spending his time between LA and Switzerland, Tobias Madison has produced a series of work observing society within culture. Doing so, his aim is to present internal struggles on the outside. For his collaboration entitled “Die Trotzwinkel”, Madison was inspired by the cover art from books by H.P Lovecraft, creating vacuum-formed illustrations in the shape of traditional Japanese Noh theatre masks.