Pulling Strings Exhibition

As a strand, the beauty of the pearl lies in the repetition and uniformity. A strand of pearls is only complete when the right number of pearls have been harvested, sorted and matched. Sometimes it takes years. Sometimes it takes a lifetime. On its own, the south sea pearl is appreciated for its unique qualities. A single pearl becomes an object open to interpretation.

Pearls continue to develop a new lease of life as the South Sea Pearl Consortium finds ways of exploring the qualities of the gems it was set up to promote.

SSPC initiatives this year have well and truly expanded the scope of pearls ... taking them beyond their exalted place as a fashion accessory into the world of modern art.

No mean transition, this was achieved locally in a joint venture between the SSPC and Melbourne-based design house e.g.etal, based around a strand of unique, bell-shaped South Sea pearls and branded as "Pulling Strings".

Pulling strings was only the first step as the strand was broken up and 20 designers each given a South Sea pearl as the starting point for a piece of jewellery. The design brief was simple and open to flights of fancy....create a piece (or pieces) of jewellery incorporating the pearls.

e.g.etal director, Emma Goodsir, says the result defied easy description ... other than to say that the cross-section of designers the gallery represents led to a rich amalgam of ideas. Some chose to work with precious materials while others took the less conventional road.

The strand was reunited, in its new form, as a centrepiece for the 2001 Melbourne Fashion Festival which has enjoyed strong SSPC support since its inception.