The Neon Hive Creative Agency

Look Twice. Jewellery by Elke Kramer.

Look Twice by Australian artist and designer, Elke Kramer, is a colourful collection of jewellery which explores the notion of secrets, deception and trickery.

We are asked to “look twice”, for there are resins that allude to stones, stones hidden behind and inside pendants and necklaces, as well as secret detailing on the inside of bracelets and rings. The idea of deceit is symbolised by the “mesmorised eye” motif, which runs throughout the collection. Movement and play are again a feature in Kramer’s work.

Always conceptual and unorthodox, this collection is also her broadest and tightest yet and features her foray into semi-precious stones and precious metals. We also find her signature use of unexpected and unconventional materials, such as new resin finishes and laser-cut acrylic. Formica is introduced to extend the theme of deceit, its finish suggests rock and stone, creating hoax-like surfaces.

Designer Profile

Illustrator, art director, and jewellry designer, Elke Kramer brings a vast reservoir of creativity, adaptability, and technical ability to all of her projects. Based in Sydney, Australia, she has art-directed her own art and fashion zine (lilacmenace), collaborated with local fashion designers including Mala Brajkovic (branding and yardage prints) and Jessie Hill (jewellry and yardages), and provided illustrations and art direction to a number of international publications: Russh (website art direction), and Yen, Nylon, Dazed and Confused Japan (illustration).

Elke launched her eponymous jewellery line in 2004, which is a self-directed expression of her unique and multi-faceted creative abilities. Rather than follow the trends of the market, her designs are the result of endless material exploration of unexpected production techniques. Great attention is paid to every single detail, and the emphasis is always on innovation. The resulting jewellery is a surprising and colourful ode to individuality, which is delightful to wear and own.

Elke Kramer’s current collection, aptly titled Trompe L’Oeil, is available instore now; bold geometric shapes and colours induce memories of childhood toys and aesthetic throwbacks to Art Deco and Op-Art.