TO THE JEWELRY OF MARGIT HART

Verena Formanek

There is a secret in any work of art, and exactly this phenomenon is what arouses curiosity in the work of the artist Margit Hart. On close examination one notices the impossibility of placing the work in conventional categories. Any reference to the term of jewelry is denied by the semantic aspect of the creations. Either mysterious objects of worship or cocoons of caterpillars could just as easily be in front of me. At first I am afraid of touching them… I might destroy them. Soft membranes cover fragile metal forms which are made three-dimensional through wire constructions. Circles, woven pieces and remarkable tactile materials arise from these metal forms. But there can be no serious appreciation of any work without some basic cultural knowledge. Thus it becomes obvious that we are dealing with a variation of contemporary jewelry. It is this specific, differentiated level which puts high demand on both the maker and the future wearer of the piece. To appreciate such work a special relationship with each item must be developed.

The terms of "preciousness", "durability", "beauty" or "change" are chosen by the artist herself when dealing with the subject of jewelry. It is a considerable cause of concern for her to create "jewelry - art" which one wears on the body. For Margit Hart, jewelry is not a view of life from a distance – not an isolated development – but a complex analysis of our biosphere and its definition. This microcosm should contain everything – the interior and exterior, both looking and being looked at – the transparency of the levels and layers of associations. However, there is still room enough for the wearer to do her own interpretation. Wearability becomes a challenge. Due to their shape and size, the pieces of jewelry require a certain consciousness on the part of the wearer. One chooses a special piece for a special occasion, and therein lies the intrigue and the enjoyment of the work.