What got you in to Crypto art?

The second lockdown provided the perfect opportunity for me to satisfy my burgeon curiosity with crypto and act upon it. People in my network had started to talk more about it and I couldn’t help but get intrigued. I was working on my second collection when I read an article about NFTs. The second collection that I was already working on happened to be build around the topic of technology. This meant I got extra curious when I started reading about the digitization of assets as I could see an opportunity for that to work for fine jewellery too, which to me already are works of art. Because of the years of the pandemic, my interest in technology had grown bigger as it had been a real savior for many of us around the world. However, as fascinating as I find technology, equally as complex it can be and so I wanted to explore this interesting relationship that most of us have to technology further through my artwork. Like my first collection Pangea, the focus was still on human connection but then this time through the lens of technology. As I started to learn more about NFTs, I got incredibly fascinated by the technology behind it. The research part of what I do is one of my favorites. I had started sketching circles and chains already before learning about Blockchain technology so the collection kind of all came together whilst I was learning about the technology. I loved the idea of creating a digital piece of jewellery, with movement and sound while being able to put it in a completely new context and univers. It all worked so well with the concept. I have a BA in jewellery design from Central Saint Martins and was trained to think outside the box when it comes to jewellery so I saw crypto as the perfect opportunity to push the boundaries of luxury goods. Having created jewellery now for a decade, I knew that I wanted to combine both hand-crafted and digital pieces as I was interested in showcasing a way for the two to co-exist. The NFT then both becomes a deed of ownership like a precious add-on to the physical piece but also works as a separate intrinsic digital artwork.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I get inspired both by what goes on around us on a daily basis but also on a global scale. My pieces are often a reflection of shifting and current cultural norms. I love to take large and abstract concepts or events and make them tangible with my jewellery sculptures.

What do you think of traditional artwork?

I’m a big fan of traditional artists and artwork too. Whether traditional or contemporary, art is a reflection of the times we are in. This is also why I find the development of Crypto art fascinating. We are at a turning point right now where technology, art and design are intersecting and I think it’s incredibly exciting.

Do you think your art is fulfilling a purpose?

I certainly hope so.

How did you start out as an artist?

I first went to an art foundation in Copenhagen. Then an art foundation in London, which eventually resulted in my enrolment onto the BA in jewellery design at Central Saint Martins in London. When I first started making art it was mainly sculptures. All sorts of different sculptures. The sculptures then became more installation like and then later I began creating the installations to be sort of worn on the body. I was deeply fascinated by haute couture and interested in the intersection between art and clothes. Then when I moved to London to study, I really got to explore this area further, which resulted in a work opportunity for haute couture designer Iris Van Herpen. Eventually, I started working in metal and my sculptures became more jewellery like made out of gold.

Who or what inspires your work?

Recurrent themes in my work are human connectedness, cross-cultural exchange and compassion. These themes then get combined with my big interest in the symbiosis of the natural and artificial. These topics are all interrelated to me and I am curious to explore this through my work.

Which other artist(s) so you admire?

Louise Bourgeois, Doris Salcedo, Damián Ortega, Hilma af Klint, Rachel Whiteread, Hannah Levy, Maria Militsi, Pipilotti Rist, Georgia O’Keeffe, Anish Kapoor, Alexander Calder, Olafur Eliasson, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Cecily Brown, Jenny Saville, Isamu Noguchi, Richard Deacon, Cy Twombly, Saloua Raouda Choucair, Ai Weiwei, Oskar Schlemmer, Anicka Yi, and so many more.

Final question, what is next for you as an artist?

I have a new series of work coming out this year, which continues to explore jewellery through both digital and physical pieces combined. I am excited to continue to grow a community of people who all value transparency, unity and innovation in the field of art and jewellery.

We would like to thank Simone Faurschou for giving up their time to collaborate on this with us.