Sorrel Van Allen
Color
From the complexity of a mimosa plant closing to the human touch, the secrecy of night blooming jasmine, or the snap of a Venus flytrap, my work seeks to explore and capture these fleeting synaptic responses. Focusing on themes of repetition, unity, and symmetry, I develop botanical drawings through careful observation of the natural world. Hand-crafted in the tradition of silversmithing techniques, each piece unfolds, revealing ephemeral light patterns and textures that highlight the myriad negative spaces.
Inspiration for my current body of work is derived from geometric patterns observed in bracts, modified leaf structures that attract pollinators and protect flowering bodies in plants. Bracts vary in scale, texture, shape, and colour, from understated lavender plants to conspicuously bright bougainvillea. These attributes make them endlessly fascinating objects for the realization of detailed and precise jewellery work, while leaving ample space for playful exploration in scale and colour.
Digitally designed and crafted by hand, each piece begins with the careful study of plant life. Paper maquettes are an important part of the design process, allowing for patient consideration of the potential for metal tabs to be creased, folded, and overlapped into unique jewelry pieces. These templates are then sawn out by hand and carefully folded into place, one reinforcing the next. In this way, two dimensional drawings are translated into complex, linked, and overlapping surfaces. Patina and surface decoration, in the form of bright colours, Keum-Boo (attached gold) or subtle oxidizations accentuate the simple elegance found in these repetitive forms.
