We are connected to past and future generations in many ways. One of those connections is jewellery – another one is trauma.  We carry residues of our ancestors’ traumas, past traumas that cannot be healed anymore. However, we might be able to heal our inherited wounds by holding space for and mourning our ancestors’ pain. Holding Space attempts to articulate unspoken trauma and acknowledge the repressed and lost memories of past generations while paying tribute to the inherited resilience that comes with surviving. This series loosely suggests a healing sequence. The pieces discuss feelings of entanglement, loss, and burden, leading towards the idea of letting go. They can be worn in a variety of ways, referring to the connective layering of trauma but also to the individuality of trauma and healing. 

Holding Space was my Bachelor of Arts and Media 2023 Graduation work, shown at the Refinery Artspace, Nelson, NZ and awarded the Jens Hansen Award of Excellence and Nelson Suter Art Society Distinction Award.