DUNCANSTEVENS

Bristling Tooth, the newest release to come from Duncan Stevens, had its debut this month at Moyo, Zoo Lake, Johannesburg. Showcased as part of a group exhibition, the pieces were an instant hit. “Sophisticated, ready-to-wear jewellery, with an edge”, as Duncan puts it. However, these pieces (barring the miniTooth range) are not for the faint of heart. A woman of daring could pull these off. Specifically-cut spike cabochons, are set into the Sterling silver pieces that form this collection. With sliding tube-set gemstones on the Tooth hoop earrings, to the spiked bangles & even bangles with gemstones set along their inside, Duncan has turned sterile & safe jewellery into pieces of urban armour. Two items that certainly stand out, were the last to be completed, the twin Tooth cocktail rings. These centrepieces literally made it off the bench & into the exhibition, missing their photo shoot by days. However, already there is a buzz around these statement rings. “Tooth is not about subtlety; it’s about a fierce intention to rediscover something primal in my art.” For the Return of the Savage Collections, this thread shall be one of the few that shall remain “safe”, merely being an echo of past pieces such as the Razorback choker & bracelet. Duncan is looking back to where he began, bringing his polished aesthetic & developed craftsmanship, with which he intends to explore his darker side…creating pieces that shall challenge the wearer. This range, as with Talisman (Artifact Collection) are a return to Duncan’s former tendency for paired-down, layered & gritty offbeat pieces that certainly are more fringe than mainstream. Check out www.duncanstevens.com to see images of the Tooth colelction and more stunning works from Duncan Stevens. NOTES 1. Duncan Stevens is a proliferate artist, having produced numerous pieces of high-end and counter-culture jewellery, installations, graphic designs and art for private clients, including a collection of jewellery, handbags and scarves for All Saints Retail Ltd ‘s 2005 collections and a 4 ½ metre high crystal installation for their flagship store in London and a t-shirt design for Big Blue in South Africa. He has been part of group exhibitions at the Truman Brewery in London and Palais de Tokyo in Paris for his digital artwork and photography and has begun a series of inked sketches of work; studies on the contour of organic objects collectively called BrainCandy (http://www.braincandy.webeden.co.uk). His body of poetry entitled Journey in a Black Cab was published in the USA in 2006, a sardonic view on things he had seen and experienced whilst living in London. He currently lives and works as a magazine layout artist in Johannesburg, South Africa. 2. Duncan Stevens Jewellery is available from Reads Gallery (The Zone, Rosebank, Johannesburg), through Makia (Johannesburg, South Africa), Moyo (Melrose Arch, Johannesburg), TWO Boutique (Johannesburg, South Africa),), Egality Gallery (Johannesburg, South Africa), Frazer Atelier (Cape Town, South Africa), Annandriya (Amsterdam, Netherlands) & NJAL (London, UK). *More stockists to follow. For an updated list, please see website. 3. For more information, lookbook, images or product for shoots, contact Lerato on press@duncanstevens.com or Duncan on 082 077 2094. 4. Join the Duncan Stevens Jewellery Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Duncan-Stevens-Jewellery/83486492477 or get jewellery styling & gift tips @DSJewellery on Twitter