School of Design Silversmithing & Jewellery
Siri Hansen
Plastic Metamorphism
Plastic Metamorphism is a collection of wearable pieces that question traditional notions of material value. The pieces are made from discarded plastics; through this, they play with the aspect of preciousness. The questioning of material value can, for example, be seen in the combining of materials that are traditionally seen as precious, like silver and gemstones, with materials often seen as non-precious, like waste plastic. The waste materials used in the pieces are a mix of discarded jewellery, waste from different departments in the Glasgow School of Art, and everyday waste found in households and on the street. The collection is highly motivated by sustainability; through doing this, what would have become waste is given a new life. Furthermore, it invites the viewer to rethink their perception of waste and their plastic consumption habits. The name “Plastic Metamorphism” hints at rock metamorphism, a process where rocks change form due to high temperature and pressure exposure. Similarly, in the making of this collection, discarded plastic was exposed to heat and pressure to be turned into something new.