Giulia Savino: Which city belongs to you?

Giulia Savino’s main artistic research explores the concept of identity, ownership and belonging through the representation of city maps.

Her main body of work, called 1: 20.000, is a compilation of maps, a collection of cities in form of jewels. As "the map is not the territory" but just one of the many possible representations of reality, each jewel is a personal interpretation of the city that takes / loses its shape in the interaction with the body.

Each piece is built patiently by assembling tiny rings in silver, precious and non precious metals, together with non-traditional elements such as resins, pigments, bones, wood, just to name a few.

The artist is first inspired by the structure of the map of each city, which represents the initial skeleton, and then she focuses on the symbolic interpretation through the inclusion of different materials.

The results are always incredible: necklaces of different sizes that dress the body in many ways.

A project that comes from a simple and immediate idea, and that, like all simple things, requires extreme definition, precision and refinement. 

The latest series developed by Giulia, who also works a lot on commission, is a project elaborated on the map of London, aimed at enhancing the green areas of the city. The whole map is divided into three series, each of them with a large park.

For those who do not like wearing big jewellery, do not worry! Giulia has developed some special editions in a smaller format.

1:20.000 is the research of our identity, complex as mazes of streets, in movement as travellers, precious and delicate as jewels.

The project is conceived as a never-ending journey across the exploration and analysis of the urban planning, social interaction and the contemporary jewellery world. At each stage the collection grows and it is enriched with new work and experience.

Giulia Savino is an Italian jewellery designer and maker with an international and multicultural background and experience in jewellery design processes, jewellery making and exhibiting.

She holds a Masters in Contemporary Jewellery and Body Ornament from Alchimia Jewellery School in Florence, where she was mentored by Belgian designer Nedda El Asmar.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from Politecnico di Milano.

For three years, Giulia lived in Cairo, where she contributed to the setting and opening of the Middle East’s first ever jewelry school, set up by the pioneer and award-winning designer Azza Fahmy – “The Design Studio by Azza Fahmy”. While there, she worked as a teacher and an assistant to the director Estela Saez.

Her work is focused on the project 1:20.000, a collection of maps in shape of jewels.

1:20.000 was exhibited in her first solo show in Turin at Officina 500, later in Melbourne at Bini Gallery and has been at exhibitions around the world.

She is currently collaborating with Ied Milano as a teacher for the Jewelry Design Course and she organizes workshops in different schools.

Image Credits

BARCELONA 1:20.000 - necklace
Date of work: 2015
Material: Sterling silver, resin, pigments
Technique: Constructed
Photographs: Federico Cavicchioli

PARIS 1:20.000 - necklace
Date of work: 2015
Material: Sterling silver
Technique: Constructed
Photographs: Federico Cavicchioli
Photographs: (foto 3 – 4): Giorgia Savino

VENEZIA 1:20.000 - necklace
Date of work: 2016
Material: Sterling silver
Technique: Constructed
Photographs: Federico Cavicchioli

LONDON SERIES

Hyde Park
Material: Silver, plated silver, glass beads
Technique: Constructed
Photographs: Laura D’Alessandro

Victoria Park
Material:  Ruthenium plated silver, plexiglass
Technique: Constructed
Photographs: Gianluca Discalzi

Regent Park
Material:  Gold plated silver, powder coated brass
Technique: Constructed
Photographs: Gianluca Discalzi

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