Jewellery Poetry – Fanni Nagy’s philosophical brooches
Organic and inorganic. Fragile and solid. Plant and crystal. Canvas and metal. These and similar properties clash and converge in the brooches created by Fanni Nagy ultimately settling into sensitive, soft, and evocative pieces through artistic alchemy. Her work embodies the timeless concepts of passing, change, and the passage of time, encapsulating deep thoughts while showcasing technical and design mastery.
The projects organically evolved from one another, culminating in a diploma project that concentrated these creative experiences. Distinguishable as individual “chapters”, they share both message and technique. At first glance, one might think they are looking at strange, dried plants, but there’s more to it. Fanni treated the already dried plants with different solutions – sodium tetraborate decahydrate and magnesium sulphate – causing crystals to form on the surfaces, and transforming the once-living, blooming material into something exquisite.
Some day…
“Although my project started out as a material experiment, experimentation and dealing with materials led me to discover that plants and flowers lose none of their charms after wilting (dying). Wilting is a natural part of their existence and is thus inevitable for every flower, but a little care could bring out the hidden beauty to give them new life. Arranged individually or in a small bouquet, I turned them into a brooch. These fragile compositions remind us of the beauty of life but also its transience and passing.”
Taesung
“I stitched dried eucalyptus leaves on linen, with a symbol on the back representing my best friend, Taesung, who passed away. This piece makes me feel closer to his memory while helping me accept the passing of time and the changes it brings.”
Master work
“Time never stands still; change is constant. I wanted to represent transience and change through a symbolic interpretation of dry flowers and crystals. The background made from dried flower leaves symbolises permanence, while the brooches placed on it represent human life and change. While being worn, the brooches keep changing: the crystals gradually wear away, the leaves crumble, and the original colours fade.”
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The project was completed in the Jewellery and Metal Design MA program at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, under the supervision of Flóra Vági, with Zoltán Tóth as the consultant.
In 2022, “Some day…” won the Stefan Lengyel Scholarship of Excellence, and recently, “Taesung” was selected for the Inflow Personal Narrative Space jewellery competition, thanks to which it will be exhibited at three locations between August 31 and October 13.
