Elfi Spiewack

Rainer Beneke 

02-22 November 2007 

Established jewellers Rainer Beneke and Elfi Spiewack are skilled at crafting unique works in which their individual style and methods are immediately recognisable.

Both Beneke and Spiewack are of German origin, Beneke emigrating to New Zealand in 1984 and Spiewack in 1999. Although it is possible to reflect on the impact of migration, the artists’ background, training and approach diametrically oppose one another. What draws these two jewellers together is the way in which they engage in fields and lines. Whether it is the spherical pendants in solid gold and silver of Beneke or the intertwined silhouettes of Spiewack’s necklaces, rings and earrings, a recurrence of intersecting curvilinear shapes emerge.

Elfi Spiewack’s recent work has developed from her previous "Playinstinct" series in which one of the main features was to wear / connect the jewellery in innovative ways. Her new work gathers clusters of architectural shapes together in striking black, silver and gold, the silhouetted forms dancing a knotted rhythm.

Rainer Beneke sees his works as ‘a reflection on the gold fields; playing with segments, like shadows of ridge-lines in the tussock-textured Central Otago ranges.’ On several pieces Beneke has repetitively stamped the word gold to add emphasis to form, and concept. Reminiscent of small floating planets, streaks of gold or silver slice the surface, lines converging upon new found frontiers.

Catalogue Essay by Lydia Baxendell 2007

For further images and information regarding the artists please click on the links to their artist pages:

Rainer Beneke

Elfi Spiewack