Spam Glam / Hannah Almond
she/her
Brighton, West Sussex, UK
As Hannah, I have been making “wearables” from as far back as I can remember. Not always clearly labelled as jewellery but consistently colourful, entertaining and approachable. My sense of humour guides me while I try to engage in important conversations, using my creative practice as a vessel and entry point.
More recently, I have adopted a charismatic and colourful alter-ego, Spam Glam.
She helps me engage with more diverse audiences, on a level that suits both jewellery and non-jewellery folk, and she continues to inspire my current work.
“Using a combination of sculptural, jewellery and costume making processes, I allude to pop-culture references, personal experiences and everything in between to create wearable objects designed to get people talking. Are they jewellery? Are they costumes? Are they sculptures? What’s your opinion?
If a conversation has been started, my goal has been achieved.”
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“I’ve spent most of my life living in a skin that didn’t feel like it was mine, either because of how I looked, the people I was with or the space I was occupying. Nothing ever made me feel truly like myself. Except music. Through music I could disappear, be in a self-made space that felt safe and personal. I wore my favourite band’s merch like a badge of honour and pride, connected in my own way to something meaningful to me. Words and tunes, seared into my mind forever.
When the time came for me to be honest with myself about who I was, despite the painful process, it was this music and its poignant words that kept me connected to myself and my truth. Now I want to wear these words with pride on a shield I have created to honour their healing connections.“
What role does connection play in your creative process?
“In more recent years my work has become increasingly personal and biographical, in its own entertaining way. I’ve found that it’s often the only way I can truly communicate how I’m feeling or something I’ve experienced, in order to move forward both creatively and in my personal life. It’s undeniable that each piece contains a part of me and my journey, making me and it intrinsically connected.“
"BrainStew", recycled/scrap denim + felt, recycled polyester stuffing, embroidery thread, cotton thread, paint, steel wire, 3.7" x 4" x .16", 2024
What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
“I’m at a relatively early stage of my queer journey, having only openly come out 2 years ago. I’ve always felt like an outsider but never known why or given myself time or space to explore this. Since identifying as queer and embarking on a new path of self discovery, I have come across a community and space that I finally feel comfortable in and connected to. Essentially, my queerness has helped me connect to myself. I’m not sure I could say how my queerness connects to the world around me just yet, but I am exhilarated to start creating and building on these connections.“
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“This work was created at a very low point in my personal life, but has allowed me to start having conversations about topics that aren’t always easy to broach. This is key to my work and something, despite being painful at times, that I strive to include when creating new pieces. Each piece acts as a conversation starter, inviting the viewer in by way of a comical or colourful object or text and then leading them, should they want to engage, into a safe space to talk and share without feeling alone or judged. My work may not appeal to everyone, but everyone is welcome to take it in and join in on the conversation.“