Keri-Mei Zagrobelna
I use jewellery as my language and speak through my hands. My eyes hear my thoughts and translate.
I grew up in Wellington and graduated from Whitireia with a BaPPa in visual arts. I come from a background entwined in museums and art, worlds in which both my grandmother and mother worked. My grandfather was also a carver so I was very lucky. My work aesthetic represents the connectedness to my immediate environment and upbringing. It speaks of cultural communication and interpersonal relationships through the language of jewellery.
Jewellery making is a medium by which I can communicate my heritage to both local and global audiences. I seek to nurture and encourage others through my work, by way of my actions and choices as an artist.
I work in a broad range of materials but tend to shift towards Pounamu, stone, bone and metal.
This could be a direct influence from my heritage but I am currently exploring other mediums in which to demonstrate and share my experience and view on our world.
I enjoy not only creating pieces that can be worn on a daily basis as a treasure or a taonga but am also learning to engage into the exploration of other creative forms such as sculpture, installation, research and photography.