A heart of wood
Inspired by the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi—a Japanese concept that embraces the beauty of imperfection and the natural cycle of growth and decay—'A Heart of Wood' is a singular creation, born from a unique opportunity. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, with no duplicates, and no second chances. My approach was to transform a distinctive wood grain into a weightless brooch, carving it from the back to preserve its essence. This process turns raw wood into wearable jewellery, celebrating its original rustic charm while embracing its organic character.
Heart of Wood brooch, materials used: found wood, 0.9mm steel wire and brass mechanism.
On Body and Still Life photography taken by Amina Badylbayeva
Model: Yuan Chi Lee
November 2022
Sketching and technical development of the brooch mechanism.
Tests and prototypes of brooch settings on wood off-cuts.
Wabi-Sabi research photography by Leonard Koren in ‘Wabi-Sabi for Artists, designers, poets & philosophers’
Wood off-cuts and branches found in New Maden, Greater London