Unpacking Design - 2. Oscar Abba



Oscar Abba - Italy/Spain




In his artist's statement Oscar Abba describes himself as “a jewellery designer who studied psychology [sic] in "Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza" Italy. Then he moved to Barcelona where he developed his skills at the Massana School and obtained a degree in jewelry artistic design at the Massana School in Barcelona, a discipline to which he applies his intellectual skills.

“His jewellery search revolves around the geometric exploration of a concept based in materiality, form and folding...

His series of pieces in silver and gold develops a discourse characterized by a succession of lines and planes which form void(s) and convert into rings, necklaces, broaches or earrings.” Klimt02 [no date indicated in document]

In his work, which has crisp lines and can be both angular and organic, “the abstract formal conventions and its icons disappear in favor [sic] of a geometric exploration” Oscar Abba [no date indicated in document]

When interviewed by blogger Monica Grose-Hodge, she found the "(Oscar Abbas) admits to being a bit of an odd ball and prefers to work in projects where his client asks him to produce something relating to a piece of art or building. He has had commissions from the Porche Foundation and the V&A.” Art Workers Guild Blogspot [31 July 2009]

IMAGE 1

Oscar Abba
Ring: Space 2007
Silver
5 x 4 x 2 cm

Oscar Abba's piece Space is a ring constructed for the finger. It is not round in shape. It is made up of six pieces of square silver bar or regular thickness but dissimilar lengths. The pieces are soldered to each other at diverse angles. The piece has the feeling of an architectural structure, it is as though the artist has leaned the bars against each other into a form which will support itself and remain upright through being balanced. This way of joining the pieces, as though building houses out of sticks, creates spaces between the bars, one of these spaces has the dimensions to accommodate a finger.

The pieces of bar of which this ring is constructed lie at dissonant angles to one another, and lead the eye in various directions. The empty spaces created in the cruxes of the joins are dissimilar to each other in size and shape. Harmony is achieved in this piece through the regularity of the height to width dimensions of the individual bars to each other. The finish of the piece is regular and uniform, it is silver in colour with a medium polish which gives the piece a soft wearable look. The dominance of pieces of bar in the right hand of the piece is balanced against the large space created on the left which is made for the finger which is to wear the ring.

IMAGE 2

Oscar Abba
Piece: Melancholy 3 2007
Silver
5 x 5 x 5 cm

 Melancholy is a relatively small irregularly shaped chunk of metal. It is an object rather than a piece of wearable jewellery. The parts of the piece which are visible are blackened and have irregularly shaped flat faces. The piece appears to be made out of solid silver, and is small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand. The piece is positioned so that it is lying horizontally to the ground giving it a low squat profile and adding to the feeling of weight given the piece by its deep colour. The piece is angular and geometric and its horizontally dominant, feminine, positioning contrast with the masculine nature of its lines.

The piece is smooth in texture and looks almost sooty as though the surface would be powdery or slightly velvet to the touch. This contrasts with the perfectly flat, hard planes of the faces of the piece.

IMAGE 3

Oscar Abba
Bracelet: Folds II 2011
Silver

Abba's Folds II is a bracelet. It is made of silver and has a smooth but not highly glossy finish. The lines of the piece are feminine and curvilinear. The organic line of the piece is carried through to the overall shape and roundness of the bracelet. The piece is made of a piece of silver rolled into a length of fairly thick ribbon. The ribbon is then folded in soft rolls and curls following the cylindrical round fullness of the contour of an arm.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Klimt02. nd. Jewellers Index - Oscar Abba. http://www.klimt02.net/jewellers/index.php?item_id=640

[15 July 2011]

Oscar Abba. nd. Oscar Abba Works/Ideas.http://www.oscarabba.net/[15 July 2011]

Blogger. From the Artworkers Guild Secretary.[31 July 2009]Barcelona1.http://artworkersguild.blogspot.com/[16 July 2011]