Fragment #2

Notes

"My brooches respond to the work of the South African artist Irma Stern, specifically her 1934 still life Still Life with Fruit and Flowers. I created two brooches, Fragment 01 and Fragment 02, in which I interpret the subject matter and the expressive movement of her brushstrokes. My interpretation of the Iznik enamel flask consists of vitreous enamel "fragments" framed in sterling silver.

The flask, which Stern used to keep her brushes, remained in her studio in Cape Town. These enamelled fragments reflect her use of cobalt blue and the geometric motifs that decorate the vessel. In response to the pink and blue hues of the delphiniums and day lilies, I incorporated repurposed vintage traditional beadwork. The use of fragments and repurposed beadwork explores ideas of reinterpretation, renewal, and the continuation of tradition. While Stern's work reflects her engagement with Africa and her South African context, my brooches express my own South African heritage through contemporary jewellery."

Statement from Marlene de Beer, 2026

Inspired by: Still Life with Fruit and Flowers by Irma Stern, 1934

Still Life with Fruit and Flowers by Irma Stern, 1934