‘New Spring, Old Gods’ SERIES

New Spring, Old Gods series of jewellery and images

Series’ hero image, 2021

Two pieces of the original 2021 series were shown at SCHMUCK 2021, curated by Helen Britton, International Handwerksmesse, Munich, Germany

Photo: Inari Kiuru

'New Spring, Old Gods' series of jewellery and illustrations reference ancient Finnish nature-based beliefs and rituals connected with death, rebirth, the forest and the Sun, depicting plants and flowers returning to life after a long winter. The idea for the series and the first pieces were generated at the artist’s home during the 2021-22 pandemic lockdowns when she was unable to access her studio and tools, and needed to use materials at hand. The necklaces are fabricated entirely from thousands of plastic price tags Kiuru had collected, and use only the tags’ own locking mechanisms for connecting the parts. While working on the series, the artist has often sensed the supportive and encouraging presence of her female ancestors, many of whom were also makers, and the Finnish people’s roots deep in nature. ‘As I sorted the components into sizes and colours’, Kiuru says about composing the first necklaces, ‘I soon forgot they were industrial plastic and I a contemporary artist. Instead, as the first patterns developed, I became simply one in a long chain of craftspeople who’ve used gathered, seasonally available materials to create.’ *** Images to all serial works on this website are currently being added.

Twelve sacrifices of flowers
2022
Neckpiece, made of 12 individual necklaces (see the image below)
Plastic price tags, spray paint
L65cm H2cm

Twelve sacrifices of flowers II consists of 12 individual garlands, commemorating wildflower sacrifices offered up to gods in sacred groves, to ensure a good harvest and hunting luck.

More about New Spring, Old Gods series:

New Spring, Old Gods series – jewellery, images and background: digital exhibition as part of IIb with Michaela Pegum, for Radiant Pavilion 2021.

New Spring, Old Gods: Adornment for the people of the bear. On the series of jewellery and images based on Finnish ancient nature-based beliefs and rituals. Inari Kiuru (5 October 2021). Garland Magazine.

L: The Rite II from New Spring, Old Gods series
2021-22, Plastic price tags

R: The artist’s maternal grandfather, ‘Vaari’, wearing Finnish flower garlands made for him by Inari and her sisters. Jamali, North Karelia, Finland c. early 1980s.

Photo: Kari Kiuru