How It Started

Eva Kerer

2024
Oxidised copper, velour string
100mm x 100mm (pendant)

Usually working with found objects guiding her process, Eva felt she never had a proper conversation with the metal itself. Believing copper had little to say, she challenged herself to work with it, engaging with wire rescued from an off-cut underground cable and sheet metal from a roofers’ scrap bin. Once destined for the scrap dealer, these materials seemed to come alive, sparking a dialogue.

This body of process work consists of earrings, brooches, and necklaces made of oxidised copper with brass and freshwater pearl elements. The pieces, with their irregular, soft, rectangular shapes, evoke sketch-like drawings. True to the utilitarian and humble origin of the copper, the metal does not pretend to be valuable, creating a juxtaposition with the freshwater pearls.

About Eva

Eva Kerer is a contemporary jeweller based in Whakatū – Nelson. Her practice is informed by materiality and combines traditional silversmithing with experimental techniques, often incorporating found objects. Eva explores jewellery as a communication tool, questioning conventional perceptions of value and craftsmanship and examining the meanings attached to the materials.