Street art commentary as inspiration for jewellery design

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate whether street artists make statements about current socia-political affairs as a form of popular protest and whether those statements can be reflected in another design discipline. such as jewellery design. while reflecting upon the work of Faith47. a South African social commentator. Cultural studies has been referenced as a theoretical framework in relation to cultural sup-groups and. a historic context is provided in order to better understand the significance of social commentary in graffiti, a form of street art produced by social sub-qroup, and made during a period known as Apartheid and currently. in Post-Apartheid South Africa. A range of jewellery then emerged from the research. dealing with the aspects of social-political commentary. as an interpretation of a form of protest art and applied to wearable jewellery. The products incorporate word and images that are provocative and invite the viewer to question and reflect upon what in my view was a contentions and significant period in the history of South Africa.