LIGHT CATCHER
$9,900
This golden dish is my interpretation of a fairy tale that I once heard. This fairy tale or maybe it was a true story, was told and retold at night, by traders and camel drivers sitting around their campfires in the ancient Arabian dessert.
It is the story about a romantic Arabian prince. At full moon nights this prince filled a delicate hand chassed silver bowl with cool, clear water. He moved it gently outside and placed it carefully on the mosaic inlaid floor of his balcony.
The bowl was positioned skillfully in such a way that it not only collected the shimmering moonlight but also reflected the moons silver white disk onto the ceiling of his bedroom. All night the prince could watch and dream as the moon moved slowly over the firmament of his bedroom ceiling.
The light of Australia’s Top End is unique, intense, it varies, from burnt orange, a hue of red to soft and mild gold. Words cannot describe its ever changing and escaping beauty.
The “Light Catcher” is my Top End version of the Arabian prince’s silver bowl.
Hung on a wall the “Light Catcher” with its parabolic shape and golden Surface catches and reflects its surrounding light in its very own mysterious and mesmerising way.
Gold Leaf (replica) on Steel
155cm Diameter
Artist Statement: Jürgen Kammler Bio
Jürgen Kammler is a German national born in Switzerland and has made tropical Darwin home since 2000.
He is a Designer and Master Goldsmith by trade and began his jewellery apprenticeship in 1974 in the renowned German jewellery town of Schwäbish Gmünd. After his apprenticeship, he completed his master’s course and design degree. While at the Jewellery Master School, he submitted an entry in the prestigious De Beers ‘Diamond Today’ international design competition. At the age of 24, Jürgen’s simple elegant concept walked away with first prize, earning him an interview with the famous Reneé Kern Jewellery store in Düsseldorf – one of the leading jewellers in Europe.
He thrived in the creative hub of Europe’s finest jewellery environment. Bitten by the travel bug, Jürgen extended his European travels and set off to travel to India, Kashmir, the Mountains of Nepal, South China, Australia, New Zealand and later countries of Southeast Asia. He is also an avid rock climber. Travelling and rock climbing is a key virtue to his life’s experiences and vision.
After travelling, Jürgen went back to Germany and worked for Christian Bauer where he spend a decade under the tutelage of the CEO Dr. Frieder Keller-Bauer and successfully established the Christian Bauer brand in the American market.
In the year 1999 Jürgen met members of the Paspaley Family in Switzerland and after a short visit to Darwin he accepted Marilynne Paspley’s offer as the Manager of the Jewellery Manufacturing Division at the Paspaley Pearling Company. In early 2000 he established Paspaley’s first state of the art Jewellery Manufacturing Facility in Cullen Bay Darwin. In 2001, Jürgen created and launched the first In-house Jewellery Collection for Paspaley. Chairman Nick Paspaley has been a significant inspiration as Nick freely shared his deep knowledge of pearls, the stories of pearling and his life at sea.
Jürgen passion for creative designs, produced unique, inspirational designs showcasing collections of the incomparable beauty of the South Sea Pearl till Jan 2024.
Since moving to Darwin, Jürgen sailed the waters of the Arafura Sea, travelled the outback- admiring the beauty of the landscape, nature and atmosphere of the environment with its people. Sunlight being the key element of the day with amazing sunrise and sunset.
After 50 years in the jewellery trade, working on four continents, Jürgen can finally relax and reflect on his many achievements and experiences.
Contact Tactile Arts on 08 8981 6616 or admin@tactilearts.org.au to purchase.
