Pushing the boundaries and creating the unexpected: The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, exhibits at the YKK London Showroom

Combining the unexpected with the traditional zip, The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, is pushing the boundaries of jewellery, objet trouvé and zips. Students from the jewellery, gold and silversmithing department worked with YKK London Showroom to confront traditional perceptions and the role of the zip. The collection is on display at the YKK London Showroom, Shoreditch, between 4th March and 5th April.

Students were challenged to design and create a jewel or an object responding to the theme of ‘combining and connecting the absurd, the nonsensical and the unexpected.’ and to consider radical combinations of materials in connection with the YKK zips. Both Bachelor and Masters students spent only four days exploring unorthodox material selections resulting in a surprising array of proposals that undeniably push any understanding of zip applications as we know it. The works include transformations of daily objects including a ceramic jug, champagne flutes, bricks, and even a whole roast chicken, integrating YKK items in their inventive responses.

Nedda El-Asmar, leader of the jewellery department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, explained how: “The challenge for the students was where to begin in a project that provides such freedom; the starting point can be daunting when expected to produce an original result in a short time. We wanted them to push boundaries of expectations, to think outside the box, and in ways to facilitate the YKK zip as unique. “Our students’ surpassed expectations, incorporating unthinkable material combinations with YKK zips in innovative proposals, for this workshop. The fact that YKK is open and generous in such collaborations has been extremely beneficial for both students and the college. The brief enabled our jewellery students to play with imaginative and inventive ways to transform industrial components into delicate, bold and humorous applications. In doing so it helps them to learn how to defy traditions while expanding their skills.”

Kei Kagami, YKK Europe Limited Ambassador, explained: “A few times a year I give lectures and run workshops with YKK at colleges in Europe. Last year I was asked to present a lecture and run a workshop for the jewellery, gold and silversmithing students at Royal Academy of Fine Arts. I instantly thought it would be very interesting to get the students to create something completely unexpected and absurd with YKK products, to see what the students at one of the world’s most esteemed colleges could create. “My lecture focussed on talking about creation and why imagination is so important. The workshop followed the lecture, where I supported the students to see the different ways you can experiment with zips. The results were astounding and the standard of work was incredibly high. So many innovative items were created; it was a real challenge to select the creations to be on display at the YKK London Showroom. The students’ designs that we selected completely achieved the brief reflecting absurdity and the unexpected. We hope our visitors to the YKK London Showroom enjoy the items from the students as much as we do.”

The workshop results will be on display 4th March - 5th April at the YKK London Showroom, based in the heart of Shoreditch at 154 Commercial Street.

The YKK London Showroom is regularly involved with student designers, student workshops and colleges to encourage creativity for the next generation of fashion designers.

For more information about the showroom, visit: www.ykklondonshowroom.com