I threw a kiss in the ocean

Irene Grishin-Selzer does such weird and wonderful things with porcelain. Best known (or rather, not known; hiding, perhaps) as the artist and designer behind the gorgeously unique jewellery label Iggy and Lou Lou, Irene draws on the rich history of porcelain to lovingly handcraft pieces that manage to somehow be both fresh and contemporary, yet imbued with the nostalgia and presence of an ancient family heirloom.

This month, she had a collection of porcelain pieces, titled ‘I threw a kiss in the ocean’, showing in Melbourne’s Outre Gallery. I’m sorry for my slowness, but the exhibition has just ended- however, you can see lots of images of these gorgeous little sculptures here. From decorative skulls so sweet little deer, these pieces have all the charm of her Iggy and Lou Lou designs.

All of her work is a storyteller’s dream come true. When you visit the Iggy and Lou Lou site (which is exquisite- a work of art in itself), you get taken into a wild and romantic fantasy world, like a classier Alice in Wonderland. The collections are all tied together by decorative themes and narratives, with strong historical references and influences ranging from Memento Mori to Film Noir and forest folk and more.

Each collection of jewellery is whimsically titled and accompanied by beautiful, beguiling descriptions. The ‘Love Bandits’ collection, for example, comes with the epithet, ‘Stolen time stands still, and love lasts forever…’; ‘I Will Eat You Alive’ is introduced with the riddle, ‘Catch a golden fish or find a golden treasure… Gold turns into honey, as love becomes food and nature takes its course.’

Somehow, Irene has managed to create distinctly contemporary jewellery that combines history and fantasy, in a way that miraculously doesn’t become costume-y or OTT. And although it looks like nothing you’ve ever seen before, there is such a mysterious, nostalgic quality to each piece that it manages to feel completely personal.

Of course, they are a little pricey, so I’m still saving up my pennies. But with so many intricate and idiosyncratic details, there’s something for everyone- whether you’re more into ponies or death masks, or a combination of both.