Isabel Distassi

Isabel’s practice looks at the complexities of the body and its relationship with jewellery. By examining how delicate lines and bold mass can merge, her work interrogates the directionality of influence: does the jewellery influence the body or the body influence the jewellery? Isabel explains that ‘the subtle yet constant shifts in balance between the two demonstrates that the chain needs the body as much as the body needs the chain; they work in unison to create something enigmatic, tactile and unique.’ 

Another facet of her exploration concerns the shifting concept of a tool. Isabel uses drawing as a tool for seeing, jewellery as a tool for delineating the body and even uses jewellery itself as a tool for making jewellery. Perhaps most importantly, Isabel uses jewellery as a way of understanding herself. Despite being the subject of her own exploration, she hopes for her body to be rendered unspecific and unimportant, and to inspire the feeling of curiosity and intimacy in others.

Recently, Isabel has moved towards photographic explorations, for which she has created physical pieces emphasising the human touch. Her desire to explore physicality has been only intensified by the recent COVID-19 lockdown, where our bodies were discouraged from and deprived of human contact, leaving them isolated and craving. This has inspired a project for after her MA, to create a collection of bespoke items physicalising the connections different people have with jewellery. By examining a variety of body types, which offer both a diverse range of forms and tell a spectrum of stories, she hopes to create pieces that are authentic to the wearer. Thus, the relationship between the body and jewellery continuous beyond herself.