Emerging artists face many challenges when trying to establish their artistic identity and voice. Inspired by Ted Noten’s iconic Mercedes-Benz brooches (2001), this series of 30 brooches, created by dismantling a Barbie toy car, reflects on the journey of carving out a place in today’s contemporary jewellery landscape. One of those challenges artists face is the constant dialogue with the histories that inform their work, which triggers questions about one’s authenticity and whether it is, in fact, possible to create any original work.

Barbie Car Brooches were made for and shown during Nelson Jewellery Week 25.