Artist statement — Post-Colonial Gold

Post-Colonial Gold emerged from the conviction that the value of gold has become disconnected from the meaning we assign to it. Today, the price of gold is driven by scarcity, speculation, and insecurity. As a result, luxury gold jewelry functions less as a sign of pride and more as a form of vulnerable possession. Where gold was once worn as an expression of dignity and beauty, it now often evokes anxiety rather than confidence.

In researching the origins of gold, I discovered that in many cultures it held a spiritual function. It was used as an offering, as a connection to the higher realm, as a tool for inner development. Gold did not stand solely for ownership, but for transformation.

Colonial history has developed nations, but it has also taken much away. That history is morally complex and not without consequence. With this collection, I shift the focus away from what was accumulated and toward what was lost. I enter into dialogue with artists who, through symbolism and practice, draw attention to vulnerable structures — whether historical wounds or contemporary societal tensions. My intention is not to replicate their ideas, but to translate them into a compact, wearable model: an object that carries a position.

As a fashion designer, I reconsidered my role. In an over-saturated and polluting consumer culture, I do not want to stimulate production that simply encourages more acquisition. Through wearable sculptures, I propose an alternative: a concentrated statement that prioritizes sustainability and meaning. The form is compact, but the thinking is systemic.

This collection connects to earlier projects, such as my critique of the most polluting artworks and the accessible exhibition 100 in Art You Need to Know. Both stem from the same mission: to better understand the world through art and art history.

Post-Colonial Gold can be experienced both physically and immersively. Recycling and reworking previously acquired pieces is part of the system. The essence of art is condensed into something that can be carried — not as a luxury object, but as a conscious position.

For me, this aligns with the present moment. It unites my background in fashion, my critical reflection on consumption, and my conviction that value must be redefined.