Works
Eva van Kempen
Aram Hartsuyker
October 4, 2022
Ming Design Studio
October 4, 2022
MEET THE MAKER
Eva van Kempen is a technically trained goldsmith and jewellery artivist. With a BA in HRM, Van Kempen received her MA from Sandberg Institute, Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam in 2020. In response to the impending extinction in the Netherlands of this time-consuming technique, and building on a recent resurgence of interest in craft inspired by global lockdowns, Van Kempen has launched The Filigree Ambassador. In lieu of mourning the loss of tradition in the face of technological change, the designer chooses to socialise basic filigree knowledge-production and emphasise its meditative aspects over a sellable end product. Practising an intangible cultural heritage while engaging in a new form of self-care in today’s fast-paced society, she argues, can provide people with a sense of place and purpose, which can be beneficial to their well-being.
Project
Infinity Filigree by Ming Design Studio and Eva van Kempen is an attempt to innovate and safe-guard the dying skill of filigree, one of the oldest and most complex gold-smith techniques. While honouring its meditative aspects, the aim is to make this labour-intensive technique more accessible to designers, makers, hobbyists, as well as consumers. Presented are a 3D printed tool that simplifies the making of a specific filigree pattern, and contemporary earrings made with this tool.
Value iAtelier
Eva van Kempen is very grateful for the opportunity of iAtelier and her collaboration with Ming Design Studio, Crafts Council, and to follow the projects of the other participants of iAtelier. It enriches her motivation to preserve the technique of filigree for future generations and keep production within the Netherlands.
