Jewelry in Action – Raising Marine Environmental Awareness through “I.Sea.You.” Rings

The world we’re living in is facing countless environmental challenges. While some are clearly detectable to our senses such as air pollution and waste problems, some others are pretty much out of sight, as these problems are literally happening below the horizon, in our oceans.

When I read about the call for the International Jewelry Competition Aqua, Ambra, Aquila 2024, I felt right away intrigued. Maritime themes have always fascinated me. There’s something about the majestic ocean with all the incredible creatures living in it, inciting endless mystery and questions.

With the theme ‘The sea giveth, the sea taketh’, the contest asked participants to study the message that the sea tells us, and interpret this as jewelry. The topic can begin from a material, element, phenomenon, or concept. It also highlighted that the use of sustainable, recycled, and ethically produced materials are highly recommended.

Corals is a topic that I never really searched for. Instead, as cliche as it might sound, I feel that it found me. My first interest in corals was when I came across fossilized corals that are commonly used as jewelry cabochon. Ancient corals can turn into fossils when their skeletons are filled with natural materials, and this happens over millions of years. The beautiful fossilized corals with fascinating patterns have inspired multiple of my creations.

I created “Coral” in 2013. The fossilized coral cabochon inspired the pattern of the pendant, made in copper and silver. The piece won a Grand Prix Award of Minister’s encouragement of the Japan Ministery of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.

More than a decade ago, I created “Coral” necklace. Through this piece I express my admiration to nature. The necklace shows the connection of the past (fossilized coral cabochon) and present (the New Mokume Gane technique of combining silver and copper clay was just introduced). Nature has provided us so much, and we need to take care of it.

At that time I was aware of the challenges that our ocean environment faces. As time goes by, in the past few years, I became more aware of the depths of the issues around corals in our oceans. I found out and started to learn more about coral bleaching phenomenon. Coral bleaching is when colorful corals turn white due to environmental changes that cause corals to stress out and expel the algae that give them their colors.

In coral bleaching, colorful corals turn white. Left: a colorful coral. Right: a bleached coral.

As someone who loves nature and constantly gets inspired by nature wonders, the reality of vibrant and colorful corals turn into white skeletal ghosts is simply horrifying and heartbreaking. Deeper than just than a change of appearance, coral bleaching phenomenon affects the survival of corals, which would affect the marine ecosystem, and therefore would also affect human livelihood.

Through my jewelry art “Message in the Corals: I.Sea.You.”, I tell the story about the life of corals. My aim is to awaken thoughts and raise discussions about the critical issue of coral bleaching in our oceans. My hope it would ignite positive actions, no matter how small, to save our corals.

“I.Sea.You.” Ring Series: Jewelry with a Hidden Message

“I.Sea.You.” consist of two parts: the ring bands and paper sculptures. The ring bands represent the seabeds and are made from 100% recycled silver in the form of Art Clay Silver, manufactured by Aida Chemical Industries Co.,Ltd., a company specialized in recycling and refining precious metals. The paper sculptures that represent the corals living in the oceans are handcrafted from 100% recycled paper and pigmented to depict colorful corals.

There’s something about “I.Sea.You.” jewelry. Can you tell?

Visually, the ring series is bold, dynamic, and colorful, something that could catch attention. If a viewer takes a look at the rings, a thought or a question might arise, and this could further lead to the hidden message in the jewelry.

Unseen beneath the vibrant colors, I intentionally use non-permanent pigments, which means continuous exposure to unfavorable conditions could eventually wash the colors away, to render the coral bleaching phenomenon.

Typically, a piece of jewelry is made of the most durable materials of metals and minerals existing. While the ring bands of “I.Sea.You.” that represent the ocean floor are indeed made out of precious metal (fully recycled silver, that is), for the parts which represent corals I use papers and non-permanent pigments, exactly to portray the impermanence of corals as living beings, which would be affected by changes.

The colorful ‘corals’ could lose their colors if worn in unfavorable conditions, rendering the coral bleaching phenomenon. Above is the illustration of my jewelry in the design or planning phase.

By creating a jewelry piece that has a vibrant appearance and to be enjoyed just as any jewelry but which actually can lose its appearance completely if exposed to unfavorable conditions, I invite viewers to confront the harsh reality: we would lose corals, slowly or rapidly, if we don’t take care of them. The intentional use of paper and non-permanent pigments as materials turns the coral part of the jewelry into a living thing, and makes the issue of coral bleaching that for most of us seems so far away to come close.

Awakening Thought and Igniting Dialogue

With the bold and bright appearance, Message in the Corals: “I.Sea.You.” would first invite thoughts or comments about the appearance. But at a deeper level, it is the hidden message that I hope would provoke thoughts and feelings, and raise the awareness of coral bleaching phenomenon and the serious environmental situations in our oceans.

By winning the first prize at Aqua, Ambra, Aquila International Jewelry Competition, I find myself sharing about my piece in different opportunities: face-to-face, on internet, on phone calls. Through explaining about my jewelry, I get to explain about the environmental issue to friends and strangers, and many have never heard of coral bleaching before. I know some relatives who then share about “I.Sea.You.” within their circles, it’s great that the message goes further. I hope “I.Sea.You.” continues to be a messenger in raising awareness about coral bleaching phenomenon.

Creating “I.Sea.You.” is one of my participation in raising awareness to our marine’s environment.

Coral bleaching is a dire situation, however, there is always hope if we keep doing whatever we can to help corals, even if it’s just small actions. In the hope to contribute in bringing awareness to what’s happening to the environment of our seas, creating my jewelry art is one part of my participation in taking action.

“Message in the corals: I.Sea.You.” ring series, 1st Prize at Aqua, Ambra, Aquila International Jewelry Competition. Exhibition: Gallery Ruuma, Maritime Center Vellamo, Kotka, until July 28th 2024. Meripäivät (Maritime Days), one of the biggest festivals in Finland, takes place in Kotka from July 24th to 27th 2024.


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