Created by translation, rather than "lost in translation" is the idea behind an intriguing exhibition. LIKE, An Experiment in Interpretation, an exhibition project conceived by Nelson conceptual jeweller Stella Chrystomomou, opens on Saturday 12 April. LIKE links jewellers and a writer, with an uncertain outcome.

Adventurous, playful and provocative, LIKE explores the 'translation' of an object between media: from the physical to the written, and then back to the physical. LIKE began with the selection of an object that was simple and geometric, but ambiguous. This was given to a writer, the leading New Zealand poet Bill Manhire to 'describe'. In turn his verse was given to nine national and international jewellers to re-translate into objects which are displayed in the exhibition.Created by translation, rather than "lost in translation" is the idea behind an intriguing exhibition. LIKE, An Experiment in Interpretation, an exhibition project conceived by Nelson conceptual jeweller Stella Chrystomomou, opens on Saturday 12 April. LIKE links jewellers and a writer, with an uncertain outcome.

Adventurous, playful and provocative, LIKE explores the 'translation' of an object between media: from the physical to the written, and then back to the physical. LIKE began with the selection of an object that was simple and geometric, but ambiguous. This was given to a writer, the leading New Zealand poet Bill Manhire to 'describe'. In turn his verse was given to nine national and international jewellers to re-translate into objects which are displayed in the exhibition.LIKE features New Zealand's inaugural Te Mata Estate Poet Laureate, Bill Manhire, with his written interpretation which is responded to by artists from five different countries, NZ, Australia, US, Germany and The Netherlands. The jewellers, including Lisa Walker, Karl Fritsch, Andrea Daly, Peter Deckers and Fran Allison, have deciphered the text and through their individual interpretation made the resultant objects. The objects are both similar and wildly different raising questions in regard to perception, interpretation and the process of making.

LIKE's Curator, Stella Chrysostomou is particularly interested in conceptual jewellery and the field of object art. How we 'read' and interpret ideas and situations is central to the exhibition's concept. When an object transforms via translation, we are challenged to explore the ideas of perception, translation and interpretation.

This exhibition aims to build relationships between the visual arts field and literature. LIKE also involves an element of audience participation which may appeal to those who are intrigued by the interpretation process. A workshop event will be run alongside the exhibition, organized by Stella Chrysostomou, to provide an experience similar to that of the artists involved. To learn about the project and hear Stella Chrysostomou come along to her floortalk on Sunday 13 April at 2 pm. Also a performance on Wednesday 21 May at noon is scheduled to extend the experiment in interpretation, involving poetry readings by NMIT Poetry students written in response to the nine jewellery translations of the leading New Zealand poet Bill Manhire's 'Like'.

09/04/08