copyright
school research
university of hertfordshire
Antje Illner has a passion for design and her work, literal and sensual transforms precious and non precious materials into intimate and pure forms.
Antje Illner enjoys experimenting with materials such as porcelain or glass, which are somewhat unusual for jewellery and these she transforms into organic shapes based on forms found in nature.
Antje Illner's language as an artist jeweller is poetic and her jewellery intends to create a calming effect, either visually for the viewer or by touch for the wearer. By holding the pleasing curvilinear shapes the wearer acquires a relaxing sensation. It may thus not be surprising to find a predilection for pendants and finger rings in Illner's collections, as these traditionally induce a physical experience when worn round the neck, touched or viewed on the hand which is in perpetual motion.
Antje Illner's research focuses on the design process and the physical and visual qualities of her chosen materials. All are important and influence directly the manner in which Illner crafts her models. Ultimately the choice of technique applied to the specific matter determines both form and surface treatment. Her inspirations are undoubtedly drawn from the rounded forms of the human body and later of the plant and animal life. It is in fact during the process of transforming materials into sculptural pieces, when Illner determines where to position her jewellery on the body. Ultimately the aim of her natural and intimate erotic art creations is to underline the beauty of the wearer.
Illner's work is intuitive distinctive and pure. The organic shapes come to life through contrasting elements, such as light and shade, concave and convex outlines, hard and soft surfaces, or outward appearances and inward feelings. In his recent ‚Design Sourcebook" David Watkins poignantly describes Illner's work as ‚capable of different interpretations hovering between the literal and the dreamlike"
Chains and settings, mainly in silver, are characterized by restraint and are simply functional to support the crafted form in porcelain or glass to be worn on the body. The metal surrounds are meant to give only a hint of ornament and the predominant use of silver underlines Illner's sensitivity for materials. The lustrous silvery grey of the metal complements the white colour of the ceramic surfaces or the translucency of the glass in her later collection. White, Illner's favoured choice, is a colour, which has been traditionally associated with purity, and it is the purity of form for which she strives.
Illner's most recent collection titled ‚Sand and Sea" (2002) involves a new technology of glass with glass fibre inlays formed instantly in the microwave. Under the convex surfaces the romanticizing motifs taken from nature, such as birds, butterflies and flowers with symbolic content, appear as crystalline and luminescent miniature sculptures in relief. The matt silver both enhances and amplifies the three dimensional effect.
Exhibitions
2005
"Origin" International Jewellery exhibition, traveling Germany
2004
"Silver" 25 Years Birthday Party jewellery exhibition in Gallery Legnicy, Poland
"Freistil" jewellery exhibition in Berlin, Bettina Meyer macht Schmuck Gallery
2003
"Five", Anniversary jewellery exhibition in Berlin, Bettina Meyer macht Schmuck Gallery
"RCA Secret" Royal College of Art, London
2002
"6 Sterne"( Six Stars), European jewellery exhibition in Berlin, Gallery Bettina Meyer macht Schmuck
"RCA Secret" Royal College of Art, London
2001
"amberif", international amber fair, Gdansk, Poland
"Bei meiner Ehre" (On My Honour), International jewellery exhibition touring Europe, started June 2001 in Cologne; January 2002 in Erfurt; April 2002 Hannover; August 2002 in Mainz; September 2002 in Schwaebisch Gmuend; November 2002 in Birmingham and January 2003 in London
2000
"positionen" Jewellery Design, Internationales Design Zentrum, Berlin
"British Jewelley in Berlin" B. Meyer macht Schmuck Gallery (curator)
"Its Only Natural", Brewery Arts Centre, Cumbria
Bibliography
2005
1000 Rings, Lark Book Publication ISBN 1-57990-508-0
2004
Catalogue "Birthday Party" ISBN
2003
Crafts Magazine issue March/ April 2003, page 58
2001
CD-Rom Catalogue accompanying the exhibition "On My Honor"
1999
Design Sourcebook Jewellery, D. Watkins, ISBN 1-85974-078-2
100 Years of Art and Design at the Royal College of Art. Christopher Frayling, ISBN 1-85585-725-1
Collections
2005
Koch Ring Collection, Germany