Veronika Fabian

Jewellery maker

©Kata Gyenes

Freedom from the constraints of established value

Veronika was in economics before she turned to craftsmanship
Her motivation for creating is conceptual, and the aesthetics of her pieces are a byproduct of her designs
She uses everyday materials in her jewellery

Veronika Fabian earned her BA in Jewellery Design from the University of the Arts London in 2018 and her MA in jewellery making from the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam in 2020. Veronika was born in Hungary and has her workshop there. Before pursuing this path of craftsmanship, she had studied and worked in economics and finance, namely as a financial risk analyst for several years. "This background provides a unique perspective and a very different take on jewellery making," she confides. In her approach to her craft today, Veronika calls herself a conceptual artist. Beauty is secondary to the concepts she addresses in her designs. Her materials are often second-hand or discarded items from our everyday lives. "My work is about subverting the value of traditional jewellery materials, how we wear it, and what that says about us," she says.

Interview

©Kata Gyenes

©Kata Gyenes

Could you explain your rapport with the value of jewellery?: Jewellery is strongly connected to value. I work with value on an immaterial level. I use non-precious metals and everyday objects, but the ideas and craftsmanship behind each piece elevate the materials to preciousness. I explore how jewellery relates to our times and carries cultural value.
How does your background in economics influence your artistic work?: My change from banker to jewellery artist was a catalyst and motivation. It inspired themes that range from very personal to more abstract—playing with, subverting, and freeing materials traditionally associated with jewellery and monetary value. The notion of newfound freedom is a recurring theme in my work.
What is Challenging Jewellery?: The MA programme I attended from 2018 to 2020 was called Challenging Jewellery. The goal was to fundamentally challenge the concept of jewellery and explore questions related to community-building, collectivity, democracy, and freedom. This is further expanded upon in my work.
What materials do you prefer?: I am an idea-led jewellery designer. The concept comes first, and then the chosen material serves it. I find metal chains fascinating as raw materials, their symbolic meaning and materiality. I am open to any new material that can communicate my ideas effectively.

Veronika Fabian is a rising star: she began her career in 2018