Moulded to shape in copper and brass

CHENNAI: Copper chains and bangles, in different shapes and sizes, are in bling bloom, as they hang on little wooden branch-like structures. Karthikeyan Pitchaimallian, the artist behind these jewellery explains about his show ‘Metamorphic Retrends’, his first ever jewellery set, that’s on display at Gallery Veda.

“My passion lies in art and I have been a sculptor for over 20 years now. And as part of my research, I wanted to do something different and I thought jewellery would be the perfect way to explore a newer medium of art,” says the artist-cum-sculptor. Karthikeyan resides at the Cholamandal Artists’ Village and has a special connect with elephants.

He has been doing a lot of research on the animal. And so, a lot of his sculptures which are displayed at the gallery are related to the animal. “My work mostly reflects their psychology, habitat, their internal connections, and also their connect with nature. And I further reflect it on my sculptures,” he explains.

It was during one such research that he went beyond elephants and explored nature. He was then inspired to design jewellery.

The chains and bangles which are primarily made of pure copper, and a bit of brass, undergo a lot of processing to ensure that no skin-harming chemicals are present in them. While some of them are plain shapes, there are others which have designs carved or painted onto them and also have precious stones attached to them. “Once the mould is ready, the piece is then taken for painting and etching, following which we add the enamel onto it,” he says.

The ideation, conceptualising and execution of the final product happened over a span of six months. “I had to find what kind of jewellery women prefer, how good the quality was and how long it would last as well, because sometimes there are pieces of jewellery that tend to fade. So I would constantly take my wife’s and children’s suggestions,” he adds.

The show was inaugurated recently by Dhivyadharshini, television host, PV Prabhakaran, principal, Bharathiar Palkalai Koodam, Puducherry and Lakshmi Menon, senior vice president, The New Indian Express.

The exhibition is on till Mar 14. For details call: 9884725824