The Fringe Arts launches Ditto

Ditto, a jewellery exhibition that aims to celebrate the synergies between the design and the art world, launched in Cape town at The Fringe Arts on Friday last week. The Fringe Arts owned and run by Chantal Louw and Thessa Bos conceptualises and organises creative projects ranging from retail to marketing and events in collaboration with almost a hundred local artists and designers. For this special exhibition Chantal Louw asked eight jewellery designers to create works that discover their link to the art world.

Chantel Louw said, 'At times, without knowledge of each other, artists and designers work in remarkably similar ways. It could be the colours, the shapes or even the emotive aspect of the work that creates this link. As an art historian I see these links every day and wanted to explore them with the designers we work with. People say these worlds are linked and inspire each other but my questions were; do they see the world in similar ways and can we merge the viewpoints into a new conversations.'

When we asked Chantel about her favourite piece this is what she said, 'That's a hard one as I am in love with every piece and the process that each piece and every designer went through. However, my art historian side fell did fall in love with Anna's [Raimondo] work immediately.'

The exhibition features collaborations by Megan McFall from Starbright Girl and Carla da Cruz, and Marietjie Beeselaar from Skermunkil and Marli Lyon. Prices range from R350 to R1670. Participating designers include ceramicists Noleen Read and Sarah Benjamin, jewellery designers Smith Jewellery and Beloved Beadwork and surface designers Jesse Breytenbach and Fabric Nation. Art includes work by Daya Heller and Elsabe Milandri and limited edition prints by Candice Breitz, Sam Nhlengethwa, Cameron Platter, Georgina Gratrix, amongst others.

The exhibition will run until Saturday 25 May. For more information contact Chantal Louw on 072 252 9709 or e-mail: chantal@thefringearts.co.za

Here are some of the pieces from the exhibition: