Jeannette Knigge
she/her
Deventer, Overijssel, Netherlands
Jeannette Knigge (1973) educated artist and goldsmith, Art Jewellery Maker since 2001 (KunstGoud).
2024 [queerphoria]Vol3: Transformation, Cookesville, Tennessee, USA
2024 Ressur-ACT, Munich jewellery week, DE
2023 Nevengeul in Zwolle, NL
“Jeannette Knigge applied to MASieraad, (Master jewellery design and Arts) looking for a boost in her artistic practice. In this period, she embraced the experiment and rediscovered her artistic qualities. She experimented with several materials, investigating issues of the body. What is beauty, and when is someone attractive? What are taught habits, and when is something my own identity? How can we use our jewellery to change our identity? Jeannette tries to find answers to these questions in her contemporary jewellery pieces.”
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
“I do not consider my material choices to be queer. I want to discuss or investigate specific topics in my pieces. On my path of developing the pieces, different materials can be explored until I discover the one that is right for this topic."
"Under Construction", Silver, variable dimensions, 2024Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
“I think a lot of queer people can relate to the topic of my recent pieces. The question of who you really are and how to behave in different (social) circumstances or online. It is a very lively topic. But as I think gender can be fluid, I also think all humans can be fluid in their performance and identity. So I think my work is not typically queer, I think everybody can relate to this topic of not always knowing who you are. This piece shows that everybody is always Under Construction, trying to be the best self they can be."
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“I did some research on the performativity theory of Judith Butler, mainly for writing my thesis. But during this investigation and writing this piece 'Under Construction' was born."