jewelry collection made from dust particles disintegrates over time

jewelry collection made from dust particles disintegrates over time
(above) beginning stage before deterioration
all images courtesy of ágústa sveinsdóttir

‘dust’ is a collection of jewelry that allows the wearer to experience transformation and disintegration. informed by the tradition of the symbolic vanitas paintings, icelandic designer ágústa sveinsdóttir has formed the series of metallic wearables as a reminder of the transience of all earthly pursuits and how it can be a motive for design. this ideology has led to an exploration of how to break traditions and create new ways of material use. sveinsdóttir asks, ‘is it possible to make use of materials that have always been considered nothing more than useless dirt?’. with the use of a biodegradable adhesive, dust is transformed into a jewel coating, covering the metallic bangles and rings. with time it withers away, revealing a manmade structure — a sort of skeleton within — giving the bearer a chance to enjoy every moment of its life span.

a ring’s metallic pieces begin to be covered in dust

deterioration begins on the ring

dust bracelet

bracelets with deteriorated dust coating

the metallic bangle is concealed in a dust coating

a sifter holds the material

collecting tools

the works on exhibit

rings on display

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.