A Modern Craft

[Vicky Saragouda]

Virtual Insanity - Virtual Expression is an exhibition, taking place at The Goldsmiths' Centre looking at the role of modern technologies in jewellery. Using new technology RCA students of Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork & Jewellery present their experimentations under Silvia Weidenbach's guidance. All work for this exhibition was created by employing haptic arm and 3D printing. I saw Weidenbach's exquisite and detailed work last year at Jerwood Makers Open 2012.

My favourite from the students' jewellery was Sofia Winberg's necklace because of the quality of the product but mainly because behind that there is a thoughtful and thorough research.

The Goldsmiths' Centre organised also a talk for this exhibition, 'Behind the Curtain' event where speakers included Weidenbach, a few of the students and rapid prototyping technicians explaining the implementation of the haptic arm in jewellery design and making. At the end of the talk there was a demonstration and the opportunity for visitors to try using the haptic arm. It feels so different from sketching on paper and even from illustrating designs using Adobe Illustrator but apparently this is the future of contemporary jewellery. Jewellery design and jewellery making in a virtual reality.

[Vicky Saragouda]

Thank you Poppy. It's still on till 4th April. I do agree with you, working with this technology it's an amazing experience. So many possibilities...

[Poppy Porter]

This looks really interesting, I must try and get up there to have a look if it is still on.  I had a little go on the 3D Anarkik Angel haptic arm at the ACJ conference in 2010 it is an amazing tool.