Caroline Thomas: Statement

Title of series: Making Marks [2026]  (As a part of Aotearoa Jewellery: Unmapping & Remarking 2026)

With these pieces I am mapping memories and making marks. The pieces are made from metal fragments that I have picked up over time on my daily walks with my dog, objects whose functions are unclear but whose shapes and lines are somehow compelling to me and anchor me to a time and place.

A couple more items are decorative metal pieces I bought at a local market and two further objects have been formed by me, in emulation of the original metal objects found while walking. I have made cords for these objects to turn them into neckware. Some of the cords are interchangeable so the objects can be arranged and re-arranged around one’s neck.

The greenstone and the seed pearls come from broken necklaces that belonged to my late mother. For me many senses are stirred when I encounter these materials. If  the works that use these materials ever change hands, I like to think that my mum is continuing to travel the world.

To me, the pieces appear to be speaking a language, not yet fully deciphered, but full of meaning and steeped in memory.

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"My practice is driven by the forces of material, language, humour and experimentation. I accumulate found materials around me until new relationships suggest themselves. My past working life as an image researcher, where I often had to select one image as a means of encapsulating a larger story, has enabled me to distill complicated ideas into a single form or handful of materials. I enjoy transforming existing objects - that have already lived a life - to find them new partners and add layers to their experiences."