Kudos Gallery
Lacquer, Lustre and Laser: Contemplative Jewellery and objects
The College of Fine Arts
The University of New South Wales
3-6 May 2006

These selection of works are from the exhibition is the culmination of Master of Design (Honours) by research towards a thesis, Traditional Vietnamese Lacquering Processes and their Applications to Contemporary Jewellery and Small Scale Body Related Objects.

Abstract
The lustre and luminous qualities inherent in lacquer objects speak of a revered historic technology chronicled by remarkable achievements. Sophisticated lacquer objects from the East Asia and Vietnam are products of the integrated histories, technologies and cultural expressions of these territories. The application of lacquer as a decorative medium originally developed in China. Through exchange and trade, the material was transmitted to neighbouring countries where each region explored the material and developed distinctive styles and techniques. Although lacquer from East Asia and Vietnam share similar material nature, the cultural attributes of lacquer, it's aesthetics, design, form and symbolism provide for marked distinctions across the zone. Vietnamese lacquer contributes surface techniques and motifs to the lacquer repertoire. The aim of this research is to investigate the materiality and processes of Vietnamese lacquer as a surface ornamentation integral to the design and making of objects.