Historically, the act of adornment; wearing jewellery; a badge or an amulet, was a means to tell the world who we are, what we stand for, or whom we would like to be. These relatively small objects had the potential to speak of large issues. The works in this collection, incorporate found materials that appear to have little monetary value, shells, quills, minerals etc, yet they demonstrate the rich biodiversity needed by the other species that humanity lives alongside. These works distil thoughts and ideas into a badge of affiliation, a momenta mori for a world whose biodiversity is reducing year on year.
AMBERGRIS
This wearable timber vessel contains one gram of Ambergris. It has been perforated with a series of holes that represent a visual notation of the complex clicks and pulsing sounds made by sperm whales.
Sperm whales predate solely on giant squid. Once digested, the sharp beaks, claws, serrated suckers and barbed clasps of the giant squid, cause blockages and irritate the digestion of the whale. A waxy substance is formed around these hostile objects to protect the whales intestinal lining and is expulsed as a floating plug called Ambergris. This substance has been highly valued by perfumers for centuries as a fixative that allows scents to last much longer. Ambergris takes years to form. It is only produced by sperm whales, and only by an estimated one percent of them. Once expelled, it often floats for years before making landfall. The slim chances of finding it has led chemists on a quest to find viable synthetic alternatives. Sperm Whales are the only species on Earth where an individual can have a home range that is transglobal, travelling a million miles in their lifetime. They have an understanding of our planet and are connected to it in ways that are alien to humans.