Baltic Artists Jewellery Interview, March 2010
In association with Scousey Couture…
Amongst horseshoes and an enormous antique globe lie the miniature art works of Anna Benson and Roisin Hyland, the partners behind a new up and coming Liverpool based jewellery company named Baltic Artists. The Baltic jewellery, however, is about a lot more than lavish decoration for one’s body. It emulates, also, a desire to create art through fashion, and to envision style as a concept rather than a single outfit or glamorous handbag. At the Scousey Couture Fashion Show earlier this week, bras and sequins and all sorts of wardrobe favourites were flying flamboyantly around the room as designers frantically attempted to dress their handsome models. Anna and Roisin, on the other hand, tranquilly paused to dress their stall with feathers and keys and other ambiguous items that would complement the theme of their unusual pieces. Amongst rails and tables of stalls, theirs stood out as a porthole to an entire other realm, a part of the room that belonged to some other time and land. Speaking exclusively to LSMedia, read along for Roisin’s scoop on their past experiences in the art world, their extra special customer services offer, and a mutual Bat For Lashes adoration…
How did you first pursue your interest in jewellery?
As artists and people who love fashion we wanted to wear unique, original accessories. We looked around on the high street and in local jewellers but couldn’t find the type of accessories we wanted to wear so we decided to make our own. Once people started to enquire about the pieces we were wearing, we decided to start making more and selling online. Each piece we make is something we would both love to wear.
When did you set up your online store, and how did this happen? Do you have any outlets in Liverpool where people can buy Baltic Artists’ jewellery?
Our online store is relatively new, having only been set up for a month – people kept wanting to buy things from us, so it seemed the next obvious thing to do. So far it’s been really successful and we’ve had so much positive feedback from customers. We are currently in talks with several outlets in Liverpool who would like to sell our work, but we want to keep it quite exclusive and not compromise on quality.
What would you say makes your jewellery stand out from other jewellers or designers in Liverpool?
Each piece we offer is handmade and unique. Each item we use tells its own story and is slightly magical. There will never be two pieces exactly the same. We will never mass-produce pieces and each item is something we’ve sat down, designed and made ourselves.
Where do you find inspiration for your pieces?
We find inspiration everywhere, we both love going to antique shops and we find a lot of inspiration in folk stories, mythology and Victorian novels. At the moment we love the steam punk movement…
What is the significance of the name Baltic Artists?
Baltic artists started as somewhat of a joke as were waiting outside a club one night and the weather was Baltic so we decided that would be our name. Its worked out pretty well though as our studio is based in Liverpool’s Baltic triangle.
What influenced your decision to have the jewellery pieces looking a little older and more tarnished? What effect do you intend for this to have upon the jewellery?
I don’t think we consciously set out for our jewellery to look old it just so happened a lot of the materials we were using were antiques that look better on an older chain then a new gold one.
You are both artists that incorporate your individual art practises into the jewellery. How is it that you would say you find the balance of transferring a concept from something so vast as an installation, for example, to something so miniscule as a ring?
We treat each piece of our jewellery as if it is a small work of art. From the concept to creation it is a similar design process. A lot of the pieces we use within the jewellery are pieces we have also used in installations.
Do you feel that having two different artistic approaches within your company means that the pieces are almost parts of two separate collections, or do you feel that both of your ideas merge into one larger concept for your jewellery?
Both of our ideas tend to merge as one. It’s great having someone to work with and bounce ideas off. We can also tell each other if something isn’t quite working or if it needs to have more too it. We’ve worked together before on art exhibitions so we know that even if our practices are different we have similar tastes.
Of the pieces listed on the website shop, which is your favourite piece, and why?
My favourite piece on the website is the Kronos Spirit necklace – I think it seems a little bit magical, almost as if it is the key to another world.
Advertised on your site is the opportunity for a customer to come to you with a concept and have you make it up for them. Is this something that you do completely to the customer’s request, or do you tend to add a little splash of yourselves into it as well?
I think there will always be a little bit of ‘Baltic’ in whatever we make. When we work with a customer we like to sit down in our studio and have a meeting with them – find out what their vision for the finished product is and sketch out some ideas. By bringing them in to the studio it gives the customer a chance to see the materials we work with and choose items they may like to incorporate.
If you could make a piece of jewellery for any celebrity, who would you make it for and what would it be?
I would love to design for Natasha Khan of the Bat For Lashes fame. She is such a unique singer who always looks amazing. Her accessories are always fantastic. She’s definitely a bit of a muse to us.
To capture a miniature Baltic artwork all of your own, why not browse the online Baltic shop by clicking here?
For more information on Baltic Artists’ jewellery, take a look at the website by clicking here.
If you missed out on the Scousey Couture action this week, why not take a look at some more exclusive interviews with all of our boutiques and make up artists by clicking here.
Rosaleen Gallagher
