TEN-SION: TEN ART JEWELLERS ASSEMBLEHELD AT OUDE LEESKAMER GALLERY[August 2022 - September 2022]

VON ARA at TEN-SION: Exploring Identity Through Art Jewellery

In August 2022, I had the honour of exhibiting as part of TEN-SION: Ten Art Jewellers Assemble, a powerful group exhibition held at the Oude Leeskamer Gallery in Stellenbosch, Cape Town. This collaborative showcase brought together six fellow postgraduate students and three lecturers from the Stellenbosch University Jewellery Design Department—each artist contributing their voice to a complex and timely conversation.

Curated with deep intention and sensitivity, TEN-SION delved into the multifaceted tensions that shape our creative practices and personal identities. Through our jewellery artworks, we explored themes ranging from socio-political constructs and cultural heritage to disciplinary boundaries and contested spaces.

As VON ARA, my contribution reflected a personal and artistic interrogation of identity—using bold forms and symbolic materials to challenge traditional notions of adornment and belonging. The experience of exhibiting alongside my peers and mentors in such a thought-provoking environment was both inspiring and transformative.

A Space for Critical Reflection and Artistic Dialogue

Oude Leeskamer Gallery, with its historic architecture and quiet elegance, served as the perfect setting for this rich exchange of ideas. The exhibition encouraged visitors to engage not just with the artworks, but with the layered meanings embedded within them. The conversations that emerged—from academic critique to deeply personal reflections—reminded me of the power of jewellery as a medium for storytelling and resistance.

Why This Exhibition Mattered

In a South African context—where issues of identity, power, and representation are deeply felt—TEN-SION offered a unique platform for young artists and educators to respond through contemporary art jewellery. For VON ARA, it was a moment of growth, connection, and bold self-expression.