Imogen HalesMurmuration2024

“Ancient mythology and folklore is intrinsic to the character of place, and often grows from natural and mysterious phenomena. Through starling murmurations Roman and Celtic gods conveyed their messages; the knowledge of how such complex choreography is coordinated and communicated remains elusive still.

Over etched copper, and in colours referencing starlings’ plumage, hundreds of individually placed silver wires are sandwiched between layers of transparent enamel, conveying the undulating, synchronised flight of a mid-winter murmuration.” - Imogen Hales

Imogen Hales is a jeweller and artist based in Edinburgh who applies traditional craft skills in contemporary and unconventional ways. Her wearable pieces engage with craft heritage as a playful and living language, exploring the role of traditions and rituals in preserving the collective memory of place.

With a focus on rural landscapes, where life was once intimately tied to the cyclical rhythms of the seasons, Imogen transposes endangered straw braiding techniques into metal wire and creates lively, painterly surfaces through the application of enamel. Via the repetitive and meditative act of braiding she attempts to momentarily build a bridge to a slower moving world, evoking an intimacy with the past.