Art Resource Focus

Little and Large by John P. Tafani
Edited by David Lewinson

What does contemporary signature jewelry share with sculpture in addition to their three-dimensionality and their identity as unique products of a particular creator?

From small, high-precision rings worn on the fingers to outdoor forms that can be seen in their entirety only from the air, scaling up and scaling down has been part of art movements since the post World War II era, and especially since the 1960s and Pop Art.

Why do similar forms at different scales produce different feelings and attract different audiences?  Does size change our perception of form and space?  Are beauty and art linked in our consciousness in such a way that most people will spend large amounts of money to buy and wear jewelry while far fewer will purchase even modest sized sculpture, let alone consider expanding their walls to accommodate a larger piece.  Is the cost and nature of the metals - from gold and platinum to corten steel -- the reason for the popular success of jewelry’s small works?  Why is small so beautiful?  Why is large so powerful? continued