In Balance

Gigi Mariani
In balance, 2016
Silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, patina, ring
3.8 x 2.5 x 2 cm
unique and signed

 

In balance is a rather remarkable wearable piece by Gigi Mariani, who fundamentally works with antique, almost forgotten techniques. Using niello, a blackener with the aid of sulphur, he conceals the preciousness of the silver metal. Under the application of heat, “blood clots” and cracks appear in the surfaces — making them appear marked by age, creating such a distinctive texture around the ring as is wraps around the finger. Mariani counteracts his instinctive approach of using the metal surface as a canvas through his precise, geometric forms, interrupting the illusion of such expressive materiality with a solid golden sphere encased within the blackened silver. In addition to precious metals, the basic materials of Gigi Mariani’s jewelry include iron, copper and brass. With his meditative understanding of techniques and materiality,  his creations’ unique aesthetic appeal often stem from these sculptural and often cuboid pieces to have been crafted by Mariani as a goldsmith who also works as a visual artist. 

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