Michelle Hales works as an artist in Brisbane, Australia. Her design practice is led by a desire to hold stories in versatile, innovative and functional jewellery. She explores connections both in the technical functionality of a piece, and emotionally, between maker, wearer and viewer. For Hales, connections create opportunity and dynamism, bringing form, function and provenance together in endlessly interesting ways.
Hales has a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and a Bachelor of Social Science in Community Development. She also has a Graduate Diploma in Education and a Graduate Certificate in Visual Arts.
Michelle Hales
she/her
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
“The act of walking for me is expansive. My most loved walks are in nature. Wild places, with little evidence of humanness. I feel my soul light up, my heart expands in my chest and my mind settles. Walking brings me peace, so I am able to release and flow. I notice small things, big things, colours, shapes, textures, light, shade, repetition. The act of walking allows me to connect to myself in the world.
This piece brings a human action, walking, into a tangible object as I experience it.”
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“This piece, Walking is part of an exploration into the act of walking. The physical act of walking for me, is most enjoyable when I’m in nature. The act of walking connects my consciousness with my body and in turn my surroundings. When I walk, I create connection to my self and my environment. My walking rhythm, as I traverse physical spaces is akin to traversing the landscapes of my mind. While my cadence settles to a steady pace, my thoughts become quiet, allowing me to notice, figure and imagine, situating myself in the present. The internal and the external are interchangeable in this state. Physical movement tunes me inward to my body and mind, whilst the external environment brings perspective outwardly, creating a fluid inward, outward connection. Embodiment is connection and such a joy when I walk for pleasure as it sharpens my consciousness. After all, I am fortunate. I am connected. I am free."
What role does connection play in your creative process?
“Other than the thoughts above on walking and embodied connection. I am interested in technical connections, and the connections drawn by stories in my work. Technically a piece might require movement to express a feeling or action. A connection that allows movement, then creates dynamism. A junction where two pieces come together allows for interaction that is not always predictable, but always fascinating. Connections provide structure for the story, whether they are rigid solder joins, invisible layers, two way hinges, rotational links or ball joints. The possibilities are endless. I see connections as opportunities for storytelling magic. Someone then relates to the story and wears the piece, the story becomes their own and continues on with wearer."
"Walking", copper, Argentium silver, nylon, 17.7" x 9.8" x .4", 2024What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
“My queerness informs my choices in the world. It underpins decisions that inform my friendships, my values, my version of truth and authenticity. It connects me to queer folk in a caring and expansive way. It allows me to be seen. I do a little queer dance when I see other queerdo’s and queerness in nature. It makes me happy that queer love, queer thought and queer iconography can be expressed in safe spaces."
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“Neon pink is representative of sky in the setting sun. Enjoying a sunset is a shared human experience on this planet. In this work neon pink represents an idealistic hopefulness. Reliably, this day will end, sometimes with a show of neon pink, heralding the start of another day and new possibilities."