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The Alchemical Egg

Visions and revelations of an enigma at the Hannah Gallery

04.10.17

The Hannah Gallery, that specialises in jewellery art, inaugurates a new exhibition ‘The Alchemical Egg’ this Oct 4th curated by Dutch Flemish art historian Nichka Marobin, that considers the transformation and alchemy of the simple egg, a metaphor for the cycle of life and materiality.

The exhibition looks at the three stages of knowledge in alchemy - nigredo, albedo and rubedo, according to the interpretation of four artists (two goldsmiths and two enamellers): Aurélie Guillaume, Gigi Mariani, Wendy McAllister and Tore Svensson. There are twelve pieces reflecting a great opus: the alchemical egg. That which Hieronymus Bosch distributed on its panels, in a labyrinth of symbols in which appears alongside shells and spheres.

  • The Alchemical Egg

    McAllister Wendy (Rubedo). Brooch, 2017. Vitreous enamel, copper, sterling silver, 24k gold leaf

  • The Alchemical Egg

    Mariani Gigi, End of the road (Rubedo). Brooch, 2017. Silver, pure gold, niello, patina

     

    Alchemy explores the transition of each of these stages through fire. Chēmeia was the ancient Greek term for "alloy". It was considered that the practice of the transmutation of metals into gold, with the ultimate goal being an overall enlightenment, or gnosis, to achieve oneness with nature.

  • The Alchemical Egg

    Guillaume Aurelie, The Sun (Rubedo). Brooch, 2017
Enamel on copper, fine silver, sterling silver, pure gold, stainless steel, powder coat

     

    In this case the subjective alchemical path is situated through the use of one of the four elements, metals and enamels, to see how the intervention of artists changes the state of matter by inventing, dissolving, separating, distilling, purifying and correcting them. This parenthesis, made by artists-alchemists, on the one hand tends to fragment time, but on the other, to fix it in a tangible piece of art jewellery.

  • The Alchemical Egg

    Svensson Tore (Rubedo). Red, Brooch, 2017. Mdf, Silver, paint

  • The Alchemical Egg

    McAllister Wendy (Albedo). Pendant, 2017. Vitreous enamel, copper, sterling silver, 24k gold leaf

  • The Alchemical Egg

    Guillaume Aurelie, The Swan (Albedo). Rosary, 2017. Enamel on copper, fine silver, sterling silver, pure gold, stainless steel, powder coat

  • The Alchemical Egg

    Mariani Gigi, Weather Storm (Nigredo). Brooch, 2017. Silver, 18kt yellow gold, niello, patina

  • The Alchemical Egg

    McAllister Wendy (Nigredo). Brooch, 2017. Vitreous enamel, copper, sterling silver, glass

  • Hannah Gallery by Klimt02
  • October 4th till November 10th
  • Riera de Sant Miquel, 26
  • 08006 Barcelona
  • klimt02.net/hannahgallery