BETTINA SPECKNER Sea bodies

The 24th and the 25th of June 2023 we organized the very first 'Galerie Rob Koudijs on location'

For this event the location was the historic Teylers Museum in Haarlem, the first museum in the Netherlands that welcomed the public. Its sublime, 18th century Oval Hall is nowadays a museum piece in its own right, the spacious 19th century extensions displays all the grandeur and optimism of its age. Here we were able to install two solo exhibitions in the magnificent Rotonda Rooms: brimming with newly created jewellery made by Bettina Speckner and Daniel Kruger.

Bettina Speckner made a group of work called 'Sea Bodies', consisting of more than 30 exquisite pieces, a substantial amount of them can be admired in the catalogue below!

Sea Bodies

In the present, turbulent times – both meteorological and political – Bettina Speckner decided that it was high time to celebrate the beauty of our planet. She granted the lead to the oceans, which cover the globe for 70%. Coral is one of the exceptional treasures that emerge from the sea. Fortunately Speckner didn’t have to fall back on the blood coral that is still harvested - under strict regulations - in Italy. She could apply material she had treasured since the time she was studying. She looks for old coral at flea markets, and by recycling it restores its value.

Coral has been cherished over the centuries both as a marvel of nature and a talisman. It is supposed to have life-giving powers and to protect one against the ‘evil eye’. When Speckner combines coral with old photographs – and in doing so relating it to human beings – the emphasis is on these associations. Yet, the artist employs coral also for its purely physical qualities: its special colour and delicate branching structure. Given the worrying condition of the world, Speckner also went in search of alternative materials. She manufactured her own ‘coral’ using solid aluminum or opted for using Venetian glass or radically choosing 3D-printing.

The sea also supplies us with other Wunderkammer treasures: shells that have the most beautiful shapes, colours and patterns, and of course pearls. They offer Speckner infinite inspiration to develop poetic, visual stories. Less obvious is her application of the plastic that pollutes the seas more and more everywhere… The artist managed to turn the tide slightly by recycling the material and letting it make a positive – colourful – contribution to her work. Ultimately, jewellery is a splendid medium for celebrating the magnificence of nature. Coral, shells and pearls are justly wrapped in cotton wool by museums like Teylers and preserved for coming generations. When worn on the street though, as part of social life, they can shine again in all their splendour. In this way Bettina Speckner provides people with the opportunity to be aware again of the beauty of a world we're all part of.

Ward Schrijver (© Galerie Rob Koudijs)