Manon van Kouswijk

Netherlands-Australia, b. 1967

Manon van Kouswijk is a Dutch artist who has lived and worked in Melbourne since 2010. She studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam where was Head of the Jewellery department from 2007 until 2010.

 

Manon’s working methodology explores and translates archetypal jewellery forms and motifs through a range of materials and processes. An integral aspect of her practice is the framing and contextualising of her work through the making of exhibitions and artist publications often in collaboration with other practitioners.

 

Manon likes to think that it’s possible to reinvent jewellery, despite the fact that its archetypal forms and motifs haven’t fundamentally changed throughout its long history. She views these archetypes as templates that she uses for her translations of the jewellery types she works from (for example the beaded necklace). The traces of the making process are often visible in Manon’s work. The imperfection of the handmade, present in marks of fingerprints and moulds, is an integral part of the objects. While originating from a conceptual approach to making at the same time her works embrace the sensual qualities of jewellery objects in the use of colour, their weight, sound, rhythm and material expression.

 

Manon was recently awarded the $300,000 Southern Way McClelland Commission for her public art proposal Peninsula Pearls. Her work is exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide and is part of private and public collections including the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Røsska Museet, Sweden, FNAC, Paris, the National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia, Musée des Arts Decoratifs, France, National Gallery of Australia and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.



Making Faces , 2018, porcelain, pigment, iron oxide

More work by Manon van Kouswijk

Making faces by Manon van Kouswijk Making faces , 2019, ,
Out of the Office  by Manon van Kouswijk Out of the Office , 2013/2019, paperclip coating, thread ,
Heartbeads by Manon van Kouswijk Heartbeads , 2020, wood, silk ,
Pearls for Girls by Manon van Kouswijk Pearls for Girls , 2012, porcelain, pigment, 14k gold ,
Perles d'Artiste by Manon van Kouswijk Perles d'Artiste , 2014, glazed porcelain ,
Pearl Grey by Manon van Kouswijk Pearl Grey , 2009, porcelain, glass ,
Colourwheel pearlchain by Manon van Kouswijk Colourwheel pearlchain , 2017, porcelain, glaze ,
Bisou brooch by Manon van Kouswijk Bisou brooch , 2011, porcelain, glaze ,
Figures necklaces by Manon van Kouswijk Figures necklaces , 2015, porcelain, glaze ,
Perles d'Artiste by Manon van Kouswijk Perles d'Artiste , 2011, porcelain, glazeHeartb ,
Circles necklace by Manon van Kouswijk Circles necklace , 2012, porcelain, glaze ,
Circles necklace by Manon van Kouswijk Circles necklace , 2012, porcelain, glaze ,
Ornamental residue by Manon van Kouswijk Ornamental residue , 2014, porcelain, glaze ,
Chunky Daisy family by Manon van Kouswijk Chunky Daisy family , 2016, glazed porcelain ,
Room Service objects by Manon van Kouswijk Room Service objects , 2004, porcelain, glaze ,
Soap with pearl chain by Manon van Kouswijk Soap with pearl chain , 1995, soap, pearls ,
Ornamental residue by Manon van Kouswijk Ornamental residue , 2014, porcelain, glaze ,
Reverse necklaces by Manon van Kouswijk Reverse necklaces , 2014, porcelain, glaze ,
Trophées necklaces by Manon van Kouswijk Trophées necklaces , 2012, porcelain, glaze ,

Exhibitions

MAKING FACES – A Jewellery Playbook

13 November - 8 December

From a beaded object that looks like a face to an abstract ornament that frames the face: MAKING FACES – A Jewellery Playbook is a new project by Manon van Kouswijk.

2016 Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery

August 24 - September 24, 2016

The Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery is a biennial international Award that showcases excellence in international and Australian contemporary jewellery.  35 artists have been shortlisted from an international field of 413 entries from 48 countries.

20/20

October 6 - 31, 2015

Gallery Funaki celebrates its 20th anniversary with an exhibition by some of our longest-standing artists.

2 minds, 4 hands

February 11 to March 8, 2014

Two renowned Dutch jewellers present an exhibition of their recent work. Manon van Kouswijk, who currently lives and works in Melbourne, explores fragmentary forms in porcelain.

Bead the System

July 5 to 30, 2011

In her latest work, Dutch artist Manon van Kouswijk explores the idea of a strand of beads as a cycle without a clear beginning or end.

New Edition

April 23 to May 18, 2013

To launch Gallery Funaki’s new interior, we’re pleased to present New Edition; a curated exhibition that explores the multiple/edition in contemporary jewellery.