Michele Oka Doner
Nightflight,2024
Blackened silver and huit huit old cut diamonds necklace
14 cm diameter; 6.17 ct
Unique within a series of 8
Signed and numbered
Nightflight (©2024): A necklace made of blackened silver adorned with huit-huit old cut diamonds. Nightflight is inspired by the natural structure of St Augustine grass, a tropical plant found in Miami, Florida that holds personal significance for the artist. The necklace echoes the movement and connectivity of the grass’s runners, evoking the artist’s memory of birds in flight. This design is rooted in her childhood memories of weaving the plant stands, capturing the fluidity and organic beauty of nature in a refined form.
The collection is an homage to “The Botanic Age”—a time long before the Stone Age, when plants and trees were central to human development and creativity. Dr. Dean Falk’s research at Florida State University positions this era as the true cradle of civilisation, where botanic inventions like woven baskets shaped our cognitive and cultural evolution long before we wielded stone tools.
Drawn from Oka Doner’s profound connection to the natural world and human history, her designs serve as spiritual meditations of this era, reflecting a time when humans were stewards of the earth rather than its masters. Her message resonates powerfully in today’s world as we face the consequences of “Plant Blindness,” a term recently coined to describe how the Industrial Revolution has distanced humanity from the natural world. The collection is a call to action for a New Botanic Age.
Oka Doner’s work is distinguished not only by her evocative vocabulary of natural forms but also by her ability to transform these forms into talismanic objects that resonate with elemental energies. Her creations are not just jewelry; they are exquisite works of art that captivate the senses. Each piece, meticulously crafted, radiates a beauty that is both timeless and transcendent. The fluidity of her designs, inspired by the organic curves and delicate intricacies of nature, results in pieces that are elegant, graceful, and profoundly feminine.
The collaboration between Elisabetta Cipriani Gallery and Michele Oka Doner is an ongoing project. This launch represents the beginning of a continuing exploration of central themes in Oka Doner’s work— the connection between humanity and the natural world, particularly how ancient wisdom and botanical forms have shaped human experiences and artistic expressions. Future pieces from this collaboration are expected to delve further into these concepts, offering new interpretations and forms throughout the year.