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Giovanna Imperia
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I have always been intrigued by the textures and visual or tactile experiences provided by certain materials, so, it was natural for me to explore media such as beads and fiber in my work and experiment with three-dimensional structures and techniques.
More recently, I began to include metal and alternative media such as resin and plastics in my work, and continue to explore how these and other organic materials can interact with each other in a dynamic way.
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The original influences of my designs can be traced to tribal adornment and ancient forms. This origin is refleted in the preference for traditional shapes (eg., armlets, torques, fibulae, etc.) and their scale. However, I like to transform these traditions by reinterpreting them through the use of highly tactile and organic materials and shapes.
Recently, I have taken these concepts further by creating body adornments that actively involve the user as activator or transforming agent. The concept of “transformation” ranges from pieces that can be worn in a number of ways, to pieces whose colors change depending on the angle they are viewed, to pieces that can actually be repeatedly reshaped into different configuration by the user.
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By redefining the experiential relationship between user and body adornment, the user is encouraged to question the nature of functionality. This creates a bond that transforms body adornments traditionally viewed as accessories into unique personal statements. The same principle applies to recent non-wearables where the user now becomes part of the creative process rather than being a passive consumer of art.
My work has been shown in many juried and invitational national and international exhibits. Most recently, included in exhibits in the UK, Japan, the Ukraine, and an upcoming solo exhibit in Italy. Selected work has also been reproduced in textile and jewelry books, and can be found in private and museum collections.
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| Giovanna may be reached at gimperia@houston.rr.com |
Canvas Weave photo by Giovanna
Imperia, all others by Jack Zilker.
All images © Giovanna Imperia. All rights reserved. |
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