The Habitat concept
Habitat is an idea I conceived and embarked on 8-10 years ago. It slipped into the background for a few years, but has recently evolved in my work, and I’m now dedicated to creating this unified concept of 101 designs as part of my lifework.
Each design will have its own particular relevancy from the time of its creation based on my personal reflections on human existence expressed through the life and characteristics of insects.
As a unifying concept, Habitat will be a unique portrait of the era it spans from 2019 up until the creation of the final, 101st design. Each piece has its own particular story, but is also a key element in the overall concept.
Habitat
HABITAT is a series of hand-crafted insect designs. An artistic project made up so far of 20 designs consisting of insects in their own habitat, exploring the themes of survival and creativity.
The global biodiversity crisis threatens all insects and their precious attributes. While mindful of this, not all creepy-crawlies have our sympathy. Yet insects and humankind may not be that different…
In my insect jewellery, I explore the creativity of winged and flightless insects by means of classical goldsmithing techniques, creating tiny creatures with distinct traits such as stubbornness, vigilance, sensitivity and charm.
The latest insect works in progress in my workshop are inspired by drones; the unmanned aerial vehicles used in warfare and for recreation, but also flighted robots taking the place of insects. The decline in pollinating insects means that experiments are now underway with artificial pollination using tiny pollinator drones. And advances in the battlefield can be achieved with combat drones that carry out remote-controlled or autonomous missile strikes.
Jewellery as art
Insects have highly evolved survival mechanisms, and their seemingly curious behaviours are adaptations to the natural environment, or habitat, on which their lives depend.
This is why all of my insects have a habitat they call home when not worn as a piece of jewellery.
The habitats are crafted within a 20 x 20 cm wall-mountable frame.
Each design is stamped with GJERSEN and a serial number after “101/” representing my ambition to complete 101 insect designs as a living connecting thread through my artistic oeuvre.
Dialogue and exhibition
With the Habitat series, I hope to be able to initiate discourse about art and design, biodiversity and creative strategies for survival in all species.
As such, the Habitat series is envisaged as an exhibition, ultimately more and larger-scale exhibitions, and the insect jewellery designs are only sold with their respective habitat and both with an exhibition clause. I am keen to engage in dialogue with exhibition venues and others with an interest in the series and its themes spanning the art of the artisan goldsmith, nature and imagination.
Similarly, I am happy to give talks to audiences about my inspiration and work processes at special events.
Please feel free to contact me by phone, email or using the contact form on this page if you would like more information about the Habitat project and collaborative exhibition projects.
Along the way, everyone can follow the creation of my insect designs and their habitats on my blog and in my newsletter where I share my thoughts about my artistic work.
Craft - Art - Nature - Philosophy
My works are created to arouse curiosity and care for life on earth through a sense of awe and gentle humour. Delve into the designs to discover little hidden signals and oddities.
My designs are wearable art in precious metals, precious stones and pearls. Each piece is professionally hand-made, crafted for years of wear and use. The habitats measure 20*20 cm and are crafted as wall-mountable copper frames featuring various additional materials as a continuation of the story behind the jewellery design. Each work is of itself, but is also part of a unified series conveying a narrative of existence, of the interaction of humankind and nature, of interpretation and misinterpretation.