JEWELLERY ARTICLE: RAQUEL BESSUDO & SEONGEUN KIM

FEELING BEFORE FUNCTION: RAQUEL BESSUDO & SEONGEUN KIM EXPLORE THE NARRATIVES BEHIND THEIR JEWELLERY

Seongeun Kim is a South Korean jewellery designer who graduated in 2013 as a visual communication design major at Yeungnam University College. After visiting the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair in 2013, she became interested in jewellery and handicrafts, and she altered her career to pursue an education in the craft.

Journey Home From A To B by Seongeun Kim | **BUY THIS PIECE HERE**

Kim is interested in exploring why people wear jewellery on their bodies. Her recent necklace series, ‘Found Myself through Home’, was inspired by her personal journey between South Korea and the United Kingdom. The concept behind the collection was inspired by the artist's sense of home while travelling back and forth between the two countries. The maker is fascinated by connecting chains, links, and the space in-between. Each necklace was made with simple shapes, materials, and processes. Her complex concept was highlighted by the intertwined wire in the first necklace, 'Journey Home from A to B'. The oxidised silver reflects the transition between psychological states.

Kim's jewellery is an expression of the wearer's uniqueness as well as their inner identity and ultra-personal feelings. Her jewellery aims to depict a sense of belonging and subjective emotions that can be experienced by anyone. The 'Journey home from A to B' necklace is a perfect representation of Kim's vision. The piece was made with recycled sterling silver and 14ct gold.

“I think that the necklace represents a sense of belonging and subjective emotions,” she explains. “People can feel at home wherever they want to be. For me, that was kind of an inspiration. I have two homes.”

The piece focuses on intertwined shapes by joining chains and links, which represent a sense of belonging and entanglement. This necklace was inspired by the two places that make her feel at home: South Korea and the United Kingdom.

Kim finds inspiration for her work from her emotions and experiences. Her designs are often inspired by geometry and simple shapes, and she uses simple processes to form her jewellery. Kim loves working with silver and oxidised silver, whose colour combination she loves. Kim wants a wearer to feel comfortable when they wear her jewellery, especially since she believes that the wearer communicates with the pieces through their body.

Kim's jewellery pieces are a perfect blend of simplicity, complexity, and emotional representation. Her collections are unique and beautifully crafted, and they showcase her passion for jewellery design. The 'Journey home from A to B' necklace is just one of her many designs that beautifully represents her vision and aesthetic, and can be purchased – along with other pieces from her collections – on the Cluster Online Store.

Raquel’s work often features fabric, embroidery, and paint, which she describes as her “language”. How she makes the mediums interact with each other and complete sentences helps her to “write the story of my jewellery”. Inspiration for her work comes from what moves her or inspires her from commonplace experiences. She says that each piece contains a completely different story, and she likes to think that once finished, they have their own story to continue with their wearer.

Raquel Bessudo is a contemporary jewellery artist based in Mexico City. She describes her work as exploring the quotidian and her everyday relationship with what surrounds her. Raquel is inspired by subtle things and intimate happenings or places, which – she explains – are often a selective and conscious process of preserving memories.

Raquel’s work is deeply personal and inspired by her everyday experiences. Her use of fabric, embroidery, and paint adds unique elements to her jewellery, making each piece a distinct work of art. Those who wear her jewellery can expect to feel comfortable and happy, making it perfect for everyday use. You can shop Raquel’s collection on the Cluster Jewellery Online Store.

One piece of jewellery that highlights Raquel’s work is the "Colourscapes-XII 2022". This piece is mixed media, typical of Raquel’s style, on textile and metal constructed. The Colourscapes series is inspired by random combinations of colour and texture, brought together in surprising and delightful ways.

When asked about her evolution as a designer, Bessudo notes that she was always inclined to use textiles in her work. Drawing and painting are important processes that she uses in sketchbooks, and soon she began integrating her metal work and use of textile with painting techniques. “Bringing together the various ways in which I connect with my need to create has resulted in pieces that contain a clearer and more distinctive direction,” she notes.