Märta Mattsson is not afraid of the repulsive; on the contrary, she sees beauty in the unpleasant. Fascinated by what we normally are disgusted by, she allows it to be material, processed and put into new contexts. Curiosity drives her to discover unexplored areas, finding alternatives to what is common.

Like an 18th centuries explorers fascination with rare and extraordinary items, Märta Mattsson presents us things that do not belong to our everyday lives. They give the feeling of being part of something marvelous and bigger. She uses insects and birds, which have seen their last days, however she would never kill or use endangered species for art. For the animals and insects she uses, life has past and they will never get it back, but by exposing these amazing creatures, transformed as objects, we can’t help but think there is indeed a life after this.

Humans have always created jewellery from the wild around us, from simple shells to trophies of claws and teeth, for hunting luck or for admiration, arousing terror and strengthening positions of power. Jewellery is like a miniature of life’s contents, both for its users and its admirers.

Märta Mattsson was born in Stockholm, Sweden and has studied jewelry art at HDK-School of Design and Crafts in Gothenburg, Hiko Mizuno College of Jewellery in Tokyo, Rhode Island School of Design in Providence and at the Royal College of Art in London. Since 2007 her work has been exhibited in several international group and solo shows. She has been represented at Platina since 2010.

You can visit the exhibition “Forever Dead” by Märta Mattsson at Platina Gallery until Mars 14th.

Older posts from this artist.

L’exposició ”Forever Dead” de la Märta Mattsson es pot visitar fins el 14 de març a la galeria Platina.

Posts anteriors d’aquesta artista.

Pendeion’s Words
Brooch. Copper, silver and paint.

Makterara’s Words
Brooch. Copper, silver and paint.

Ilanai’s Words
Brooch. Copper, silver and paint.

Today I present my recent work: “Written Words” Series.

Sometimes written words are sent to me that I don’t understand, though their shapes and the possible messages they transmit cannot be slowed. These words must continue their travels along unknown paths until they reach distant hands. I hurry to help them on their way.

Avui us presento el meu treball recent: la sèrie ”Written Words”.

M’arriben paraules escrites que jo no entenc, però les seves formes i els possibles missatges que transmeten no poden quedar aturats, han de continuar viatge per camins ignots i anar a parar a mans llunyanes. M’afanyo per fer-les córrer.

Necklace, ambidextrous, 925-AG.
Side 1 striking. Surface design uses optical illusion and enhances the effect of folding. Photo: Juergen Pokolm.

Brooch ‘weaving-frame”, 925-AG, Carnelian, Amber.

I am a qualified designer, having studied ‘Visual Communication’ at the Fachhochschule Düsseldorf. I’ve been making jewelry since 1989, and have participated in various European exhibitions.
I then qualified as a Silver Clay instructor in 2005 and have been teaching this medium at various schools in Germany since 2006. My personal interest is to achieve ‘less is more’. In addition, I like using graphic elements and geometric shapes. When possible, I incorporate visual, tactile and acoustic effects. Silver Clay allows me to use organic structures – these have greatly influenced my current designs. I mostly use silver, gold, pearls and precious stones.
After 5 years in which I taught mainly, I decided to redefine my personal work and expand my style.

Ring ‘free tendon’, 925-AG, cultured pearl.

Necklace ‘Ice’, handmade beads 999-AG, rough black diamond splinters.

Wedding ring of 3 elements
585-rose gold, 585-paladium-white gold. For the lady with 12 diamonds.

These are jewels created over a period of years by Martina Eiselein. She’s currently working on a project to make one ring per week.  You can see works-in-progress and finished rings on her Facebook page.

More information on her website and at Eiselein Design Facebook page.

Aquestes són joies creades per la Martina Eiselein en diferents èpoques. Actualment està treballant en un projecte que consisteix en fer un anell per setmana. Podeu veure part del procés i anells acabats a la seva pàgina del Facebook.

Més informació al seu web i a la pàgina Eiselein Design del Facebook.

EVERY DAY – each day like the next, but not quite….

Humour, warmth and austerity – three words I associate with my jewellery.

I experience colour and shape in almost everything in my surroundings. There is inspiration to be found in everything –  in a meeting, a shape, a feeling, a reflection, a movement, in a text and so on… Nothing is too small and insignificant so as not to be taken seriously - everything has a meaning at any given time or place.

I make unique, wearable sculptural pieces of jewellery that are free-standing sculptures when they are not worn on the body.

The size of jewellery and the fact that it is worn on the body interests me and that is why I have chosen to work with jewellery as an art form.

I choose my materials from what I find around me, at home, on a walk or at a flea market… ideas and issues decide my choice of material.

What interests me is to give the materials new energy, to put materials and objects into a new context; jewellery, based on today’s consumer society.

I want the original materials to shine through, first I want the viewer to see and experience the piece of jewellery, but then at a second glance I hope the viewer recognizes the materials/ objects I have used, life is revealed if you take the time, time past and present emerge into each other and create a new story…..

Model: Lina Fors

Tomorrow is the opening of the exhibition “Every Day” by my friend Paula Lindblom at Sintra Gallery. Good luck Paula, I wish you great success!

For more information you can visit her Klimt02 page.   Click here to  find all published posts about her on this blog.

Demà és la inauguració de l’exposició ”Every Day” de la meva amiga Paula Lindblom a la galeria Sintra. Bona sort Paula, et desitjo un gran èxit!

Per més informació podeu visitar la seva pàgina a Klimt02 i clicant aquí hi trobareu tots els posts publicats sobre ella en aquest blog.

The discovery of where we’re going while being aware of where we’re coming from is a strong creative tool.

A few days ago, Nelly Van Oost presented her new website where you can find much about her work. She’s a member of the Borax 08001 collective and currently studies at University FH Trier (Idar Oberstein – Germany) as a Master in contemporary jewelry.

Fa uns dies la Nelly Van Oost va presentar el seu nou web on podeu trobar tota la informació sobre el seu treball. Forma part del col·lectiu Borax 08001 i actualment està estudiant el Màster de joieria contemporània a la Universitat FH Trier (Idar Oberstein – Alemanya).