ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
KENT ARTIST PROFILE :
CLIO SASKIA
TAKING INSPIRATION FROM FASCINATING FLORA AND FAUNA , CLIO SHEDS LIGHT ON CRITICAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES , CAPTURING THE STRIKING BEAUTY OF THESE CREATURES AND DELICATELY RECREATING THEIR STORIES AS MINIATURE GOLDEN SCULPTURES . HER COLLECTIONS CELEBRATE THE NATURAL TEXTURES AND MATERIALITY OF GOLD WHILE EXPLORING EXCITING NEW WAYS OF ADORNING THE BODY .
Clio , tell us a little bit about what led you to becoming a jeweller and how you would describe your pieces .
I began my career as a sculptor , developing formal carving skills and mould-making techniques , alongside specialising in the 6,000-year-old process of lost wax casting . My interest was piqued when I read about the Greeks ' love for sculptural adornment , such as jewellery and clothing , and this is where my fascination with self-expression through adornment began . My sculptures soon developed from large inanimate objects into playful miniature hand-sculpted jewels which come to life when they are worn . This was the beginning of my love for creating fluidity and movement by carving a cold , solid material in such a way as to bring it to life . Animals hold a very important place in the history of jewellery and the world , and offer unparalleled inspiration for movement , textures and colour . All of my work is handmade using precious metals and Australian sapphires from my own small mining claim in the Australian Gemfields , which really is as traceable as it gets !
Tell us a little bit about the techniques and process you undergo to create your pieces .
I am fascinated by the precious materials we traditionally use to make jewellery , and combine very traditional goldsmithing techniques ( lost wax casting and gemstone faceting ) with new contemporary techniques ( stateof-the-art kinetic mechanisms and colourful nano-ceramic plating ) to realise my visions . My creative process starts with a lot of research , including meetings with conservationists and specialist craftspeople . Most of my design exploration is done in 3D with wax models , before refining forms and technical elements . With an amazing selection of raw sapphires to draw from , I am also able to facet these millionyear-old gemstones specially for one-ofa-kind jewels .
Clio , you describe your work as ‘ exotic animal-inspired ’. Why do you think they capture your imagination ?
The history of nature in jewellery is a rich and diverse one spanning centuries and speaks to our continued fascination with our world ' s wonderful - and often weird - flora and fauna . This poses a challenge of offering a new perspective on this age-old tradition , and so my focus is bringing to life creatures with uniquely beautiful and surprising features or behaviours . Animals evoke strong emotional responses in us , and so a deeper meaning can be shared through these jewels . With a rebellious streak , I also enjoy subverting traditionally held beliefs about what ' jewellery ' is , and offer my own perspective on precious adornment .
You focus on being an ethical business . Tell us a little about how .
Taking my inspiration and materials from the natural world means I have a real understanding of their value within our world . Having spent six months mining for sapphires myself , I know that it is possible to run a business in this industry with ethical and responsible practices . All the gemstones used in my work are from traceable sources . I use recycled gold and precious metals .
Where can we see / purchase your pieces ?
You can find my work online : www . cliosaskia . co . uk and follow me : @ cliosaskia .
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