Trade Brooch Project | 2009 –
The aim of this project was to investigate to what extent jewellery can act as a catalyst for social interactions.
The project consists of about one hundred brooches made with fabric, cardboard and mass manufactured brooch pins. The words “I’ll trade this brooch for a kiss”, was written on it. In the beginning of 2009 I started wearing one every day and traded the brooch when someone showed interest. I took a photo of each person who traded with me. At the back of each brooch there is a message encouraging the future owners of the brooches to upload a photo of them wearing the brooch, on the Facebook group I’ll Trade this Brooch.
Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can symbolise love, passion, respect or friendship. It can also be a way to greet, wish good luck or congratulate someone. It is a gesture that goes together with tradition, ritual and religious events, for example when the bride and groom kiss after being announced husband and wife. Just like a kiss these brooches are symbols of relationships and interaction between people.
The value of each brooch is not assigned by the material value, but by the social interaction that takes place around it and the fact that it is part of a bigger network of brooches and interactions.
Some of the brooches used in the Trade Brooch Project.
Photo’s of some of the participants in the project.
The Facebook group.
