Amanda Bergman USA
Long Static earrings
Piece created for Challenge 2022 Jewelry and Literature
Materials brass, powder coat, oxidized silver
Size 50x7x2mm
These works are directly inspired by Ray Birdwhistell's 1970 thesis on kinesics - the study of body language.
Birdwhistell, an American anthropologist, developed a system of symbols to record body movements and influenced the artist, Amanda Bergman, to develop her own language of symbols. Bergman's lifelong experience with American Sign Language and Deaf culture further influenced her to record and illustrate her daily interactions and translate those symbols to metal. The resulting jewelry exemplifies movements such as a dropped shoulder, tilted neck, an open mouth, and even conversations.
