Shining DESPAIR
Ute van der Plaats
Belgium

Ring “Winterwaldeinsamkeit”, 2024
Sterling silver, 60×65 mm
Reindeermoss and flowers covered by hand with wax, ring hand carved out of wax, lost wax casting, soldering

Winterwaldeinsamkeit

When the relentless madness of this world is clouding my heart, I take a walk in the woods, seeking comfort in solitude and the gentile quietness of nature. Especially in the winter, when snow and ice blanket the world in a frozen stillness, I find peace of mind and can rebreathe. Observing closely the details of the winter woods, its shadows, plants, patterns, textures and the special light, distract my mind from somber thoughts about all the chaos and suffering the human race is causing. I take mental notes of all I see and eventually go home somehow refreshed and inspired. Determent to create a luminous piece of jewelry to ban, even if its just for one day, all darkness in this world.

More « Shining DESPAIR »

Shining Despair – Eiko Nakahara / Japan

In the current state of the world, people hate each other and there are countries full of hatred.

Shining Despair – Malene Kastalje / Denmark

I am preoccupied with the unpredictable and abnormal aspects of life.

Shining Despair – Sunyoung Cheong / USA

As an immigrant mother and artist from South Korea, my work reflects the dualities of migration …

Shining Despair – Donald Friedlich / USA

For most of us despair comes and goes.

Shining Despair – Carmen Lopez / Spain

Spinning reflections on the title of the competition.

Shining Despair – Eunhee Cho / South Korea

I have experienced two trials in my life.

Shining Despair – Esteban Erosky / Mexico-Spain

Our ability to transform things is so powerful …

Shining Despair – Minami Hiranuma / Japan

The motif of this work is my feelings when I picked up my grandmother’s bones.

Shining Despair – Sébastien Carré / France

In these complicated times we are living through I feel quite angered …

Shining Despair – Aimee Howard-Clinger / USA

The western world can be defined by the adage ‘knowledge is power’.