POST-MODERN ART JEWELLERY The role of art The Greek philosopher Aristotle stated more than 2,000 years ago that art is the idea of a work, which exists even if not materialised. The executing, producing and realising also mean the inventing, portraying and disclosing of a dynamic concept of artistic poetry. For the perceptive, stimulating art is vital because it awakens their sensitivities. By expressing knowledge and philosophy in a systematic context, artists reveal their visions while putting heart and soul into the works, giving them meaning. The difference between artisanal and artistic creation is that the first is primarily the emotional expression of a group, while the latter is the rational expression of an individual. The role of artistic jewellery Contemporary jewellery is derived from traditional arts and crafts, from symbolic forms of abstract and/or geometric designs, and from conceptual avant-garde variants, delimited by the realisation of the pieces, where new forms of expressing inventive specific ideas are tried, emphasising unique characteristics. Today, there is a need to create original artistic symbolism in jewellery that engenders more effectively involvement. Conceptual jewellery, like in sculpture and painting, clearly reveals the style of the person who conceives and/or wears it. The different jewellery manufacturing processes Bench jewellery is composed by its mentor’s handmade metalwork, not necessarily planned. Often, the jewels result from experimentation or incidents that occur in the process of their creation. In industrial jewellery, the designer, using a computer or aiding a modeller, produces the prototypes for a series of pieces that are manually finished. In these models, the sculptural is deprived of its costly tridimensional aspect, compromising the author’s expression and, consequently, the originality. And in art jewellery, the artist generally supervises the elaboration of innovative projects, made by a well-chosen artisan, who creates tools, if necessary, for the handmade jewellery-pieces. The contribution of artistic creations to jewellery The search for the new, the art for the media, does not allow experience to accumulate or deepen in any artistic significance. Therefore the traditional art of jewellery is far from being dictated by short-lived fashion. Gem colours vary only from bright to pastel shades, according to recent researches on trends. New inventions are essential for the technological development and for better orientating the crafts of skilled artificers. Artistic creations are known to increase industrial sales and add value to exports. Art also builds: The modern Tate Gallery was constructed with the profits the English Government made from Damien Hirst’s solo exhibition in New York. The distinguished classes of jewellery Regional art is exclusive… Everyone understands a play by Feodor Dostoeivsky, but few comprehend one by Mauro Rasi on his aunts who live in suburban Sao Paulo. Ferreira Gullar, in his book Argumentation against the Death of Art, explains: “The creative capacity of an artist consists in transcending what is particular, regional, and transforming it into what is universal expression. When this is accomplished, the artwork becomes in context, universal, and in form, national. A work of art, before being national, has to be a work of art.” At present in Brazil, conceptual jewellery designers are clearing the way for the sector, but are still seen as artisanal or industrial designers, for there is no specific artistic jewellery class. In this way, the class must understand the importance of organizing itself and conquering its own place, as in Europe.