Getting ready to go to work gallery feature

05/10/2020

There is much power in jewellery, even when it is made up of everyday materials. A rough clay coin can be an amulet imprinted with meaning. Preciousness transcends the object and corresponds to the idea which the object represents. As a jewellery maker, these are ideas that I found myself questioning in the last two years. As mentioned in my post on Plastic tears, I have been venturing into contemporary art jewellery in the recent months. Along with Plastic tears, the necklace featured in this post titled “Getting ready to go to work” was featured in the Gift of time gallery of Garland magazine.

Getting ready to go to work – concept & design

I am a teacher by profession. Every morning, as I get dressed and prepare myself to go to work – to teach, there are things that I must wear or carry with me that transform my personal self into the professional self. If I am getting late, I do my makeup in my car at a traffic stop, tie my hair up in a scrunchie and run to class while I plug my USB drive into my college laptop.

The necklace, “Getting ready to go to work” is akin to a maester’s chain from Game of Thrones. Each of the clay coins carry the impression of an item I wear or carry when I go to work. The assortment of items includes a watch, an USB drive, a pen, an earring, a bottle of eyeliner, a shoe and a handbag, and laptop. The coins are suspended from chain links of clay and a basic black felt sheet- a nod to the simple clothing that I wear. Created using clay that is cured using a heat tool and felt, necklace is lightweight. However, it looks heavy, shiny, and imposing. Furthermore, it has a grungy finish indicating both the joys and burdens of teaching.

Getting ready to go to work

I am a teacher, a wearer of the chain, a supposed maester. Therefore, I am expected to be proficient yet humble, powerful yet subservient, extraordinary yet approachable. Each link represents a role I play each day. It could be that of a teacher, a counsellor, an organiser, a friend, a helper, an accountant, an artist and a documenter among others. The scrunchie or a ponytail holder at the centre symbolises the humongous effort to keep everything under control at all times. All this was in the pre-covid world.

In the present times, getting ready to go to work means getting ready to teach online. Doing meetings, class prep and administrative duties online. Getting 40+ teenagers in each class to not just listen to hours of lectures and demonstrations while looking at the screen but also getting them to learn something. Furthermore getting them to laugh, to feel to live in a way that is superior than what came before. It is thrilling, joyous, tiring and frustrating at the same time.

Translation of the ritual

Several cultures believe that an ordinary form could be transformed into one that is divine and godly through adornment. The necklace, “Getting ready to go to work” is a visualisation of this idea of consecration. Getting ready to go to work is an interpretation of ritual that is so common, yet seldom acknowledged.

Staying at home, during the lockdown for several months, has allowed me to see this series of steps of what it is – a ritual. Even today, as I get ready to teach an online class, I notice that I wear earrings, apply my eyeliner, and plug the USB drive into my laptop. That laptop is dearer than ever as I get to meet my students through it. My handbag, my shoes, and my watch have been side-lined. They have no purpose, no function now. They await the glory that once was theirs.

Credits & notes

Due to the lockdown, the editorial photoshoot of this necklace had to be done on my terrace with me as the model, stylist, MUA and photographer. It was a first for me, as this was an editorial originally intended for a magazine publication. Unfortunately it fell through due to the state of the magazine industry at the present. It was earlier this year in May in sweltering Chennai heat with me wearing full coverage makeup and my dad’s evening jacket. A big shout out to my Mom who was my assistant for the day and to Erin Prais-Hintz who introduced me to Quickcure clay. This is my first and until now, only attempt with the medium.

I hope you found it interesting

Cheers

4 responses to “Getting ready to go to work gallery feature”

Erin L Prais-Hintz

05/10/2020

OH MY WORD! This is so amazing. I really love the deep dive into the psychology of “getting ready for work.” In this Covid era with the majority of people working from home, I think it means more than ever to have those rituals. I do get dressed everyday, albeit in jeans (but that was what I wore anyway). I never just roll downstairs to my office space in pajamas or sweats – or only dress the top half! It just doesn’t feel right. I also always select a piece of jewelry, even though it is just me in front of a computer catching of glimpse of myself in the reflection on the screen. I don’t even have regular face-to-face Zoom meetings. I have let go the idea that I need to do makeup. Haven’t worn it since March. I realized that if I was not interested in putting it on for myself then it wasn’t worth it. I have focused on really taking good care of my skin and it really does look a lot better (that isn’t to say that I won’t wear some mascara and lipstick for the infrequent online meetings). The symbology is fascinating too. I wonder if that would change for you as this goes on further and things that at one time seemed important and what would replace them. I am also just delighted that you got your hands on the Quick Cure Clay. I hope you will put this up on the QCC Facebook page. I know that the inventor, John Pojman would love to see this article and your creation! Kudos to you for trying something new. This stuff is quite incredible and versatile and I know you will keep creating new and interesting thing with it! Thanks so much for sharing your art with the world! Enjoy the day! Erin

Reply
1. Divya
  
  07/10/2020
  
  Wow, I am humbled by your compliments! Thank you for taking time to read and leave your feedback. Before attempting this project, I was studying the concept of critical making and that sort of filtered into how I made the piece and wrote about it. I typically never work with clay, to be honest I am quite scared of it. But this project required a soft material. I had to get over my fear (and dislike) of clay first which was a task by itself. All in all, it was a good learning experience.
  
  Reply
Rozantia Petkova

12/10/2020

The concept and its visualization are impressive! I scrutinized the necklace to get each and every detail of this ritual. It’s so one of a kind! I thought the chain was copper, good work with the clay.

Reply
1. Divya
  
  12/10/2020
  
  Thank you so very much. When I first made it, I was not satisfied for it looked too childlike. I kept the components aside, thinking I’ll remake it with metal. But then it grew on me. The slightly crude “made by little hands” sort of finish actually worked.
  
  Reply