Artist / Maiko Jewellery
Image by @cris_made_this
artist:
Maiko Jewellery
location:
Magandjin (Brisbane), QLD
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attributes:
Statement jewellery. Alternative. One of a kind pieces. Bespoke
Ciara Tan / Maiko Jewellery she/her Ciara is a 19 year old Meanjin/ Brisbane based artist and jeweller who independently runs the brand Maiko Jewellery. She is studying at Griffith uni majoring in painting where she is experimenting with various styles and concepts. Some topics of interest being, her identity as a queer Chinese/Irish woman on the spectrum, her interpersonal relationships, psychology, and making social critiques. This year she's discovered her love for abstract expressionism and using it to help process and express emotions.
q&a
Tell us about your backstory! Any experiences that may have contributed to your evolution in your field?
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I’ve always had a love for making things with my hands so it’s only natural that I was drawn to jewellery making. I remember finding a box of beads while scavenging my room for something, ANYTHING to do in quarantine and since then I’ve been hooked. I knew pretty quickly it was what I wanted to do for the inevitable future and four years later, my jewellery is vastly different but I’m still as in love with what I do as when I began. There will really be something for everyone. Gothic, ethereal fairy core, vintage, mermaid, you name it.
Does your work aim to convey any messages? Are there particular topics/themes you explore throughout your work?
My work aims to highlight the value of high quality, ethically made and sourced one off pieces, sometimes even customised to you, over cheap, fast fashion that is destroying our planet and exploiting millions around the world. Maiko encourages the customer to divorce from micro-trends and choose something that really speaks to them and FEELS like them. These are pieces that are as unique as their wearer, and made to stand the test of time.​
How does sustainability influence your design decisions, and how has your approach evolved over time?
Sustainability has always been of high importance and has greatly influenced my materials and where I source them. In the earlier years of MAIKO, this meant thrifting and repurposing second hand jewellery but as I expanded making a larger quantity of pieces and at higher qualities I had to make some adjustments. Now I use a mix of repurposed and locally sourced materials.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face when incorporating sustainability into your work, and how do you overcome them?​
Lately I have been designing a lot of watch face necklaces that require me to source second hand watches to deconstruct and repurpose. This is quite time consuming and can be very expensive however I love the hunt and It’s always rewarding when the thrift gods bless me. I’m not going to give away all my secrets but I will say, the rural thrifts are where its at.
Who are your favourite local makers/designers/collectives?
SO MANY WHERE DO I BEGIN! I adore the artist Teg Monkey who creates iconic little monster characters. I also love Converge who host queer focused art exhibitions, You Took Your Time who make the coolest printed clothing and Little Obelia’s lingerie.
Process / influences?
I’m always subconsciously influenced by the weather and the environment I’m in. For example when staying by the beach I make pieces using lots of cool tones like blues and greens as well as shells.I sit down in front of my beading board and let myself be guided spontaneously by my creative intuition and materiality. Often this begins with a central charm I feel inspired to use but other times I’ll be inclined to use lots of one crystal.
