Conclusion

Recycling plastic waste has been the great experience for me as an art-jeweller,although it was challenging for me at first. However, I was able to outline the problems that I have faced from my prototypes. Porous plastic, which is found on HDPE tubes, has been a problem as it is difficult to clean off the oxidation layer through polishing. I end up using ABS plastic for my other prototypes as this was an easier material to work with when using fly pressing and moulding techniques. I wish I had used fly pressing for my platinum jewellery competition as I feel that this technique would work well with platinum. My research was interrupted by the COVID-19 lockdown, which has made me to work more on my CAD design for fly pressing moulds. Despite all the problems that I have faced in this report I was able to understand the function of my jewellery. I want to build a stronger jewellery collection from what I learnt when facing the problems that I came across during my action research in plastic waste jewellery. I would also like to experiment more with ABS plastic for my upcoming projects after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reference

Albrecht, M., (n.d). Mario Albrecht. Available at: https://www.mario-albrecht.com/(Accessed 15 January 2021)

Metcalf, B., 1998. On The Nature Of Jewelry (Part 1). Available at: https://www.brucemetcalf.com/on-the-nature-of-jewelry-part-1(Accessed 10 January 2021)

Givenchy, J., (2020). Galerie. Available at: https://www.galeriemagazine.com/james-de-givenchy-taffin-gemstone//(Accessed 15 January 2021)

Sorokina, M., (2020). . Available at: https://undpukraine.medium.com/responsibility-in-action-ukrainian-jewellery-brand-uses-plastic-waste-for-sustainable-fashion-64bb8a867b9a(Accessed 17 January 2021)

Quickenden. K. (2000). Virtual Gallery of Contemporary Jewellery, Birmingham: University of Central England

Introduction

This research report aims to investigate on plastic waste recycling for mixed material jewellery. I have been compiling various pieces of information from different sources, like VGCJ (Virtual Gallery of Contemporary Jewellery), Metcalf and my own researched references. My aim was to understand the techniques used when working with plastic waste and the characteristics of the work it produces, as well as and learning the function of my jewellery function. My research report has been developed through the action research methodology which has helped me to understand the process of making a final piece that has been derived from various prototypes.

Prototype

The creation of various prototypes was my way of completing the acting and observing steps of my research methodology. ,  During my planning stage, I discovered different various techniques from my references who are using plastic waste or ceramic to create colourful contrast with mixed material. Some of these techniques were employed for various prototypes such as Platinum, Mould and Fly Pressing, which should give some insight into the extent of my development. After experimenting with 3D printing and moulding techniques, I settled for fly pressing.

Research Methodology

Figure 1 - Kang. Y. (2015) Action Research Cycle

 The Action Research Methodology for this report has been developed with the continuous cycle of four different phases which are a form of collaborative research that was created by McNiff. These four-steps are: planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. These phases were completed through the engagement with data collected on the internet from specific research sources. This data was necessary to develop my research for my practical work on recycling plastic waste.

Planning

I have to gather information from other art jewellers who are using various functions and techniques to manufacture something similar to my work. This will guide me in finding the function of the jewellery I want to create, as well as providing me with techniques that I can use to make it.

Acting

I have to manufacture prototypes, from the jewellery techniques that I have obtained from my references.

Observing

I have to observe all of the prototypes that I have manufactured, so I can be able to understand my improvement in jewellery techniques that I have employed on all designs.  As a result, I will be able to create a final jewellery piece.

Reflecting

After I have four-steps completed the planning, acting and observing phases, I will be able to reflect on my jewellery pieces, as well as any improvement of my design skills and manufacturing that I will have noticed. After finding what I like and dislike about each prototype and where I went wrong with my techniques, I can go back to the planning phase and repeat the cycle, which will lead me to developing a creative final jewellery piece.

References

My jewellery has been built up by the following references; Albrecht, Sorokina and Givenchy. Albrecht uses plastic waste bags to create multi-layered coloured brooches. Sorokina is using various type of plastic wastes to create colour blended earrings that are fly pressed. Givenchy makes ceramic jewellery that is covered with colourful enamelling. 

These art-jewellers have one thing in common, which is colour contrast on their work. I incorporate plastic waste in a similar way in my own work by applying those same techniques. These techniques have inspired me to create different colour contrasts on a plastic mould from fly pressing.

My theme

My theme is Plastic Waste (Jewellery). My intention with this theme is to create a jewellery collection that will incorporate plastic as a recyclable material. My jewellery pieces will include the use of recycled plastic bottle caps that are found on sidewalks or in rivers and streams in both the township areas and the central business district (CBD). My aim is to highlight the methods of working with plastic waste, through the various prototypes approach that I have done in this research.

Maria Sorokina

Figure 1 - Re-beau. 2020. Earring. Polyethylene
 

Sorokina is a Ukrainian jewellery designer that makes accessories jewellery for fashion, her brand is called Re-beau which stands for “responsible beauty”. She is using recycled plastic to manufacture her earrings through a small-scale operation of collecting raw materials from around her area. She believes that her earrings brand will not just bring attractive, but to convey a strong message to the fashion trend, environmental, and also being responsible for recycling materials. Sorokina jewellery work can be a good reference for mixing or blending different colours of plastics together.
 

Mario Albrecht

 

Figure 1 - Albrecht. M. 2020. Networked Brooch. Polyethylene (plastic bags & packaging films), silver, dental steel

Figure 2 - Albrecht. M. 2019. Overdriven Brooch. Polyethylene (plastic bags & packaging films), silver, dental steel

Albrecht is an art-jeweller from Germany. He uses plastic bags and foils to manufacture his jewellery. “Multi-layered” to creates strong, free forms and patterns that produce high-quality brooches, rings, and necklaces as seen in figures 1 and 2. I was inspired by the strictly geometric pattern that is used in his art-jeweller. By using his process of mixing different plastic materials, I was able to create a piece of jewellery like the Geometric Rat by fly pressing plastic. This is a way of revealing the beauty of plastic waste from the special value, it holds.

James de Givenchy

 

Figure 1- Givenchy J. 2019 Camouflage Bangle. Ceramics, Gold and Gemstones

Figure 2- Givenchy J. (n.d). Cocktail-Rings. Ceramics, Gold and Gemstones

I was inspired by Givenchy's Taffin design collections seen in figure 1 and 2, which was designed to be a bold combination of colour in gemstones. He often employs coloured ceramics, which has become one of his signatures. This has inspired me to choose him as my art-jewellery reference for recycling plastic. My own contemporary jewellery pieces, like the Abstract Art Pendant, are inspired by ceramic colour contrast technique of Givenchy's jewellery, which I am not incorporating on my jewellery pieces but I rather use plastic waste to create a new signature for recycling.