jewellery, jewels adornment, sculptures

I was born in Italy where I attended artistic secondary school and the first year of architecture. I continued my studies of architecture in Brussels with "ACA" (Academy, currently I.S.A. Victor Horta). It is also with the ACA that I followed the formations of 'non-figurative sculpture' and of 'sculpture monumentale'. Between 1994 and 1999, I learned the technique and art of Jewell creation. As of the beginning of my artistic studies I was challenged by the shapes, their infinite number and the combinations quite as infinite which can exist between them. The approach of the non-figurative and monumental sculpture made me discover that aesthetics is no other than the result of the relationship between the shapes and the emotion and the feeling which they can cause. When I was young I was moved by work by Paul Klee. My work of sculptor has later being defined as being of ' constructivist' inspiration.

First as sculptor and then as a creator of jewels, I continued this research task of  "research of balance to the limit of breaking point".

To create a bond between elements in contrast, of different nature or aspect, by purifying them more and more. Full and empty, opaque and brilliant, different slopes of the planes which constitute the various elements, interpenetration of the shapes, all leading to a single element. Emotion and pragmatism make me a moderate and structured person at the same time, in my personal life as well as  in my work. The challenge is that of make a great sensitivity and a whole character cohabit without dissimulation, so that these two antagonistic elements become complementary. (Maria CONTI)

Their geometry is triangular,as if they were pushed from the ground upwards. There is always a dialogue of volumes. When two forms are there, it is only an encounter, but from three of them the composition is revealed. Each person will see an image there, will project a vision on it : for one a large jewel, for another a paperweight, and for a third, forms to be caressed, for a fourth, an urban sculpture, etc…. 

The jewels are also composition of forms or dialogues  between stones squared and polished in a more rigourus geometrical silver surface. There is alwways a round, or a square surface that meets, borders, or is used as base for geometrical stones with more flexibility. (Marc CRUNNELLE)

Her bronze sculptures are monumental: which does not mean large in size but large inconception, "with greatness". Indeed, they present an enormous scalepotential: as they are presented, in 5 Cm, to 30 Cm, high, they are suffice tothemselves in their aesthetics but contain a potentiality which allows toimagine them much larger, doubled or, tripled to become in interior sculptures,on a table centre piece, on a shelf or situated on a high base, or like smallscale models of sculptures much larger of size like monumental achievementsseveral meters tall, or even becomearchitecture of full and massivepavillon.All these potentialies are contained in these worksof art which are often made of three dense and powerful geometrical elements ,associated, incased in each other, or close to each other. Other works are made of 5 ; 6 ; 8 full and vigorous form with smooth surfaces.Creating and concretios Their particular geometry which conveys their form and final apparance which is like jewellery.

Jewels and sculptures constitute the two axe of the work of Maria Conti in bot cases, noble, polished matters winthout exuberance, through which the artist seeks the harmony above all. Contrasts of form, by the playing of angles and curves contribute to create this balance to the limit of breaking point but winthout precariousness, so much the objects created by Maria Conti exist by themselves it goes without saying. Here the despolingis not saving on means or renouncement toward the difficulty. It touches wit the epur of an art wit two faces which prefers serenity to tension, fluidity to contortions. In the register of the sculpture, Maria Contito exploit a certain heaviness while preserving the dialogue with space. And if certain pie ces Have this reassuring intimacy of form that are a self little squat, other dart out to the attak toward unlimited space, piercing it fwith their powerful sharp edges.

These composition of several distinct parts sometimes evoke the form of the urban architecture and, in some cases, they simply constitute an object to carrier harmony, unless they internal movement to create à particular dynamics which plays of the various forces involved. Her jewels draw their elegance and their beauty from the same sources purity, balance and despoling. Pendants, broachers, rings and earrings are composed of mental such as gold or silver to uses of skeleton and support.

Maria Conti confirms here her tatse fur the line, smooth surfaces, and multiple thicknesses. Sometimes she enchasses inthese fragments of minerals whose natural tones and dominant colour create contrasts of form and matter. (Didier PATERNOSTER)