Having a self-professed penchant for trapping materials between layers of Perspex, Kim Christian’s big, colourful, and most importantly wearable art is
“probably due to my love for anything retro and vintage, especially the funky patterns from back then.”
Christian’s label ‘Quiff Designs’ is certainly as funky as the era she so admires. Quiff Design’s signature use of oblong, triangular and circular shapes gives each item a distinctly geometric feel. Additionally, Quiff Design’s thematic use of wool, paper and acrylics, and contrasting of strong colours against pale metals and white, are tasteful and dramatic – wisps of multiply toned blues float across a square aluminium base, or a square of floral paper is pressed between a Perspex frame.
‘I am always looking out for different materials which I can incorporate into my designs. I don't follow fashion trends as I find this limits creativity.’ Explains Christian. Consequently Quiff Designs produces fresh and strong pieces of work, which compliment the infamously immortal black wardrobe beautifully. I am particularly fond of Quiff’s aluminium earrings; each brushed rectangular panel features threads of sharp reds, blues and greens, held down by a small disk of aluminium. It’s no surprise Christian was one of fourteen emerging jewellers selected to take part in Form’s program, ‘Designing Futures – Contemporary Wearables’. Mentored by the reputable Julie Blyfield and furniture designer Jon Goulder, the group of up-and-comers have since exhibited together as a group called ‘Link’.
‘At the moment I am working on a new range of bangles and pendants for an exhibition coming up in April… (The pieces) are made mostly out of sterling silver, which is a change for me as I usually use acrylic and aluminium,’ says Christian.
Kim Christian attended Perth’s Fremantle Central Tafe. In 2005 she continued to feed her love of jewellery design at Box Hill Institute in Melbourne. Since completing her study, Christian has returned to Perth, where she works on her jewellery at home. Christian’s jewellery will be part of a selection displayed at Adelaide’s Jam Factory later in 2009. She hopes to assemble a studio with a group of Perth jewellers, and is currently focusing upon stocking Quiff Designs to stores in the Eastern states.
Quiff Designs is currently sold at the following stores in Western Australia:
HUSTLE (68 High St, Fremantle);
FOUND (FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE SHOP - (1 Finnerty St, Fremantle); TADE' - (Shop 6/16 Risely St, Applecross);
ART GALLERY OF WA GIFTSHOP, (47 James St Mall, Perth);
LAURA FARNHILL GALLERY & GIFTS, (279 Albany Hwy, Victoria Park);
GUNYULGUP GALLERIES, (Gunyulgup Valley Drive, Yallingup);
WINIFRED AND BANCE, (850 Beaufort st, Inglewood);
ASPECTS - (Kings Park, Perth);
WILD LILY EMPIRE - (116 Oxford St, Leederville & Hampden Rd, Nedlands)
If you do not hail from the largest state in Australia, and are interested in Quiff’s work, visit:
alternatively, you can email Kim, at:
kim_christian_design@hotmail.com
