Shine:2023

SCOUR collection

I recently took part in The Goldsmiths’ Centre, Shine programme. It was a great opportunity to develop my skills as a small business owner, network with other contemporary jewellers and showcase work to a wider audience in London.

Artist Kristina Merchant based in Glasgow, showcases her collection, SCOUR, comprising wearable objects such as cigarettes, chewing gum, and bottle caps. A deep-rooted family history in the urban landscape spans generations, tracing back to their Nana Irene who worked in a cigarette factory before owning her own pubs across the globe. During Kristina's time at The Glasgow School of Art, she balanced studies with employment at a local pub, "The Bell Jar", capturing the essence of British culture and social gatherings – drinks shared and cigarettes lit – which she translated into her creations using these overlooked remnants. Crafted with a narrative meant to provoke shifts in human behaviour, her approach resonates with the Speculative Design method that substantially influenced her research.