Browsing by Author "Jordaan, Ronel"

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    Contemporary jewellery as gnosis: interpreting alchemy through contemporary jewellery objects
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04) Jordaan, Ronel; Terreblanche, Carine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Visual Arts.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This is a practiced based enquiry that concerns itself with the interpretation of the ideas of alchemy through the creation of a range of contemporary jewellery pieces. This study consists of both practice and theory, of which this thesis is the theoretical component. The alchemical dream was centred around the transmutation of matter into gold, and this remained a central goal in a field of study that spans centuries. Alchemists researched the improvement of matter, and themselves, through formulating theories and applying this in practice. However, the term, alchemy, is difficult to define. Alchemy can be interpreted in several ways, such as pre chemistry, a philosophy of nature or an interpretation of analytical psychology. This depends on the perspective from which it is viewed, be it positivistic, postmodern or anthropological, making it a term that could be seen to have multiple meanings or interpretations. As the theoretical component of this research, this thesis investigates alchemy from a broad historical perspective. By researching the way information and knowledge could be interpreted through the artefacts that the artist creates, this thesis establishes practice-based research as the correct methodology for this inquiry within the field of contemporary jewellery in a postmodern setting. Through the examination of the work of Ruudt Peters, Inge Marais and Catherine Ferreira, contemporary jewellery is established as a platform from which the concepts of alchemy could be investigated. This study shows that the practice of contemporary jewellery can be utilised to visually communicate complex terms such as alchemy and its philosophies through the creation of a collection of jewellery.