SAME SHIT

… in the end it is all the same shit, covered in a different design.

Jewellery, a symbol of adornment and luxury, exists within a larger context shaped by materialism and capitalism. To truly understand its value, we must critically examine the influence of these forces and their implications on our perception of jewellery.

In a materialistic society, the value of jewellery is often measured by the rareness of gemstones, the purity of precious metals, and the prestige of luxury brands. These external markers of worth become the focal point, overshadowing the intrinsic qualities that make jewellery truly valuable. Materialism reduces jewellery to a mere status symbol, perpetuating a culture of acquisition and comparison, where possessions determine one's worth.

Capitalism further exacerbates this issue by commodifying jewellery. In a capitalist system, profit and economic gain drive the industry. Jewellery becomes a product, subject to market demand and fluctuating prices. The emphasis on profitability can lead to exploitative practices, from mining communities ravaged by unethical sourcing to overconsumption fueled by relentless advertising and marketing tactics.

Moreover, capitalism perpetuates a cycle of relentless production and consumption, contributing to environmental degradation and resource depletion. The pursuit of precious materials for jewellery production often comes at the expense of ecosystems, perpetuating harmful mining practices and exacerbating social and economic inequalities.

Jewellery exists within a context shaped by materialism and capitalism. In this society, its value is often based on rarity, purity, and brand prestige, overshadowing its intrinsic qualities. Capitalism commodifies jewellery, driven by profit and market demand. This leads to exploitative practices and environmental degradation. The relentless cycle of production and consumption perpetuates harmful mining practices and worsens social and economic inequalities. To understand the true value of jewellery, we must critically examine its relationship with materialism and capitalism.

For example, pearl mining, often romanticised for its association with elegance and beauty, hides a multitude of ethical and environmental concerns. A critical examination of pearl mining reveals the dark realities that surround this industry, demanding our attention and prompting us to reevaluate its value.

My work Same Shit is a critique of Consumerism in the jewellery industry. The design changes, but the exploitation of our planet and the people remains the same. We work with materials that are mined while nature, animals and people suffer, materials are bought from conflict countries and therefore regimes are financed. The pearl is in its history a good example of these abuses. Hardly anything about the abuses in this industry has changed over the centuries; it is covered by a new label.

It is the Same Shit covered in a different design.

The work consists of the classic ensemble of pearl necklace and pearl earrings and a performance. The physical works are beads made of rabbit and bird shit (collected from the roof of Shenkar Jewelry Department in TelAviv) covered with mother of pearl.

In the performance, I tag myself with a pearl necklace out of price labels. Each label shows a different price. Only the turning of a wheel changes the price. This symbolizes the arbitrariness in pricing of luxury goods.