Australiana, group exhibition at Arbor, Melbourne, 2017

Snow Capped Lament

Sterling silver, fine silver, synthetic white sapphires, stainless steel

The Victorian Alpine region, and particularly Mount Buller, were integral to my childhood and hold a strong place in my heart. My grandparents, who emigrated to Melbourne from Finland in 1954, fell in love with this mountainous region and its icy connection to their distant homeland. Our family spent weekends and school holidays through every varied season exploring Mount Buller and its surrounds.

My brooch fondly presents Mount Buller under a glorified halo, a dusting of snow glistening from its slopes.

The deliberate decision to use synthetic (lab-grown) sapphires is a commentary on the inevitable decline of this winter wonderland in the face of global warming, which has contributed to decreased snowfall. The mountain is constantly growing its snow making facilities, now man-making snow in warehouses and delivering it onto the ski fields, in a desperate attempt to keep the industry alive and hold on to this natural wonder. Perhaps, with time, the Victorian snow season will cease to exist? Will my children not be able to enjoy these winter memories that I can so fondly recall?

This brooch is my lament.