Belgium, Antwerp, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, 2018

Emma Gregory has been developing a unique form of wearable musical notation for electronic dance music. Through her interpretation of this music, highly polished stainless steel wires are laser-welded into tiny, detailed shapes that match the rhythms and harmonies of the music. The songs are transformed into precious necklaces and bracelets – long chains designed to be wrapped around the body and kept close like treasured artefacts.

Gregory’s research led her to enrol in a masterclass on typography and writing systems, and an electronic music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. She chose to focus on electronic dance music because she sees unique similarities in the balance between research, technique and artistry achieved in both jewellery design and the production of dance music.