Nora Fok's "New Threads" at the Harley Gallery

Nora Fok - Tomato Earrings 2012 (knitted nylon & Linlon)

If you haven't seen Nora Fok's "New Threads" exhibition at the Harley Gallery recently here's a little something to cheer you up!  Nora is one of Britain's leading jewellers.  Her work is very sculptural and the pieces in this exhibition were created using nylon, flax and 3D printing.  Nora has invented "Linlon" thread which is a mixed nylon and linen thread.  Her work explores the interaction between art and science.  The proceses Nora uses include weaving, knitting, crochet & knotting.

Nora Fok - White Linen Globe 2016 neckpiece (knitted Linlon with 3D printed links), Earth Sea 2016 wristpiece (knitted Linlon with pearl links)

Nora Fok neckpieces - Seed Pod Variations 2012 (crocheted knitted looped linen/Linlon tied with flax seeds), Choker Weave 2014 (woven linen thread), Wearable Seed Bank 2012 (woven linen with flax seeds & polypropylene)

Nora Fok - 3D printed spiral weave wrist & neckpieces (3D printed polymer & thread)

Nora Fok - I Heart Pentagon 2016 Neckpiece, Hexagon & Pentagon 2016 Wristpieces (3D printed polymer units with tied knotted dyed nylon)

Nora Fok - Coral Colony: A Thriving Community 2016 - Crocheted linen
+ polyester threads on polypropylene

Nora Fok - Coral Colony: A Dying Community 2016 - Crocheted natural linen
+ polyester threads on polypropylene with glass beads

The Harley Gallery is situated on the Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire.  There is ample car parking and a cafe close by. Nora Fok's "New Threads" is on until 23 October 2016.

Note: It is also handy for Hope & Elvis, where Louise Presley curates a fantastic range ot textile and mixed media workshops, run by leading artists and makers.

V&A Museum, London - What is Luxury?

What is Luxury? finishes at the V&A on 27 September 2015 so if you want to see this exhibition, you'd better hurry.  It is all about how luxury is made and understood and how this may change in the future.

Nora Fok - Bubble Bath

For this necklace, Nora Fok uses handknitted nylon filament around marbles to suggest captured bubbles so combining the idea of the durable with the ephemeral.  I love this piece!

Studio Drift - Fragile Future Concrete Chandelier

In this beautiful chandelier, Studio Drift marry technology and nature.  Real dandelion seed heads have been individually applied to LED lights.  The 3D bronze circuit conducts electricity so there is no need for wiring. 

Steffen Dam - Jellyfish Installation

Steffen Dam has used the irregularities of the glass making process together with impurities and layers of carbon and silver foil to create hyper realistic jellyfish (scarily real!) in solid glass "specimen jars".

Studio Swine - Hair Highway

This exhibit suggests that as world population increases and natural resources are diminished, human hair could become an alternative resource.  Here combined with resin it resembles rare materials such as tropical hardwoods and horn and looks amazing!

Gangjian Cui - The Rise of the Plasticsmith

Gangjian Cui imagines a future where scarce oil reserves have made plastic a luxury item that is handcrafted.  This piece looked like it was made of ice - cool! 

There are some great pieces in this exhibition and some interesting ideas - go take a look.