Karen Westland
she/they
Glasgow, Scotland
Karen Westland is a contemporary Scottish silversmith and jeweller. With a design-led approach, Karen employs traditional techniques to express their ideas exploring our interconnections with the universe.
“I made the ‘duality’ brooches to advocate for community building in spite of social and cultural challenges. My handwritten messages ‘am I safe?’ and ‘are they safe?’ externalize concerns over my own and my partner’s emotional and physical wellbeing. By asking these generalized questions, I hope to nurture compassion. There is a hidden message on the reverse of my ‘am I safe?’ brooch: a reminder to listen to and let the kindness of others in.
I hope others can relate to the brooches from their own perspectives to open up conversations around the universal desire to feel safe.”
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
“Nothing – not a consideration. Silver is simply the main material in my practice."
Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
“I believe the brooches are queer, in that from a personal perspective they are engaging in themes of transphobia. The brooches are a catalyst for courage: to pay attention to a compromised sense of security and positively respond by seeking out empathy in others.
More generally as an educator, I am interested in universal learning practices; part of this is exploring creating a ‘safe’ environment for students to be their authentic selves. I hope the brooches can reach people at different levels to empower and build meaningful connections."
"Duality Brooches", Silver, gilt, steel pin, 1.6" x 1.4" x .3", 2024
“I have had the honour of listening to Karen Smith’s (Metal Artist, Founder and Executive Director of We Wield The Hammer) insightful contributions through online events in the last couple of years. Choosing to ‘represent’ has been something I have been reflecting on in my own context. I have explored my right to privacy and aspirations to take an activist approach to support the LGBTQIA+ community through representation. The 'In Focus' exhibition open call has been my first opportunity to engage in this topic publicly.”
Photography by Stacey Bentley Photography @staceybentleyphoto
