Nina Newman
Tshwane University of Technology
Gender, narrative, and agency in the contemporary jewellery of Geraldine Fenn
Contemporary jewellery is a medium through which identity, narrative, and artistic vision are expressed. This article explores how South African contemporary jewellery contributes to critical engagement with gender-based violence (GBV). While jewellery is often regarded as decorative adornment, this study considers its function as a medium for social commentary. The work of contemporary jeweller Geraldine Fenn is examined to understand how individual and collective gender narratives are embedded in her artistic practice. Using her series of brooches as a case study, the article analyses how wearable objects visually challenge gender dynamics. A qualitative research design is employed, drawing on life history research methodology, feminist theory, and hermeneutic phenomenology as a theoretical framework to interpret the complex dimensions of Fenn’s artistic creations that challenge conventional gender norms. The article proposes that her series of brooches positions contemporary jewellery as a medium of cultural critique, foregrounding women’s agency and contributing to broader discourses on gender equality and social transformation.
Key words: Contemporary jewellery, gender dynamics, feminist visual culture, life history research, hermeneutic phenomenology
BIOGRAPHY
Nina Newman is a jewellery designer, academic, and researcher at the Tshwane University of Technology, where she has been lecturing since 2000. Her creative and academic work critically engages with identity, gender, and cultural narratives, with a particular emphasis on jewellery as a medium for self-expression and social commentary.
She is currently completing her doctoral studies and supervising several postgraduate students focused on contemporary jewellery practice.
Nina regularly evaluates creative outputs and research for various institutions and is an active member of faculty committees on research, ethics, and creative outputs. She has published articles on contemporary jewellery and the ethics of commercial jewellery design. Nina continues to investigate how jewellery can reflect, question, and reframe lived experiences, especially within the South African context.