Georgia Pattos Couture Artist, Fine Art, Jewellery, Sui Generis by Georgia Pattos, Australia
as part of #IDFW22 #AIDFW season 2022 (6th JAN 2022) https://aseanfashiondesignersshowcase.wordpress.com/asea.../
INSPIRATION
Georgia Pattos is a self-taught artist and although she has had an extraordinarily successful yet diverse career, she has always been an artist by choice. Georgia Pattos’ deep motive for making art is the desire to express her passion for experimental design ‘technology’ of the hand, whereby artefacts which are created by hand evoke another time and place. Quite whimsically, she refers to her work
as ‘ the poetry of the hand’. Drawing on the art of the past and present and all of the permutations therein with a view to a future where the narrative might still value and adore works made today by ‘hand craftsmanship’. Georgia Pattos’ mantra: “The New High Tech” is the New High Technique ( of the hand). This is as opposed
to ‘High Tech’ which refers to ‘High Technology’, which in and of itself eliminates the need for any hand. Pattos is a painter, sculptor and latterly an artist who works with metal. Her painterly style has evolved since her teens and forms a diminutive part of her portfolio, some 12 or so pieces, the majority of which were created quite some time ago. The vast majority of her current portfolio has quite literally been built by the use of a variation of her own ‘High Tech(nique)’ based method. Metal threads ( wires made of a combination of metals including precious metals in some n¬stances), some findings of various metals and gauges together with semi precious /precious gemstones , pearls , etc are the ingredients , which she combines to create. Her fascination with ‘the hand of man’ and its capacity to build the most enduring, awe inspiring, time defeating monuments, engineering marvels, artefacts and conversely the most delicately detailed ancient world heritage pieces has always resonated with her artistic psyche. Extraordinary discoveries such as the discovery of The Antikythera Mechanism which demonstrate the breathtaking creativity, skill and technology of a long lost creative hand has inspired her willingness to venture into uncharted artistic waters and to develop her own hand based method of manipulating, in the truest sense of the word , metals in order to create singular un-replicable artefacts. ( *see below: The Gordian Knot Method ) Georgia Pattos’ recent art conveys a strongly felt presence, a presence not only of the artist as creator in her work but also of a presence which guides her ; her
humanity expressed via artful intention. Her Greek heritage and the opportunity to travel to far off lands and experience different cultures inspired Pattos. Both her own painterly style and her segway into creating works incorporating metals and stones, made by hand and basic rudimentary tools, without the use of heat or machinery have all been influenced by her exposure to other worlds. Pattos’ personal challenge was to satisfy her need to express her passion for history and in her own way, contribute to the retention of hand (based) skills and techniques used in the highly detailed world of human (womanly) arts. The artefacts of Ancient Egypt, Asia Minor, Greece i.e Minoan, Mycenaean, Mediterranean Geometric, Classical Greek , Hellenistic and Byzantine art, Rome, the Byzantine Empire ,the Renaissance, the classical Baroque era, the arts of the East eg: Japanese Kintsugi and to some extent the art of Faberge are Georgia Pattos’s sources of inspiration. More recently, she has been inspired by the art of Persia, Australian (Aboriginal), Japanese (Kintsugi ), Chinese, Mesopotamian, Islamic and art of the Holy Land. Pattos’ creations are inspired not only by the artefacts of those empires and epochs,
but also by art in general, human activity in all fields, the wonders of nature, the universe, as well as science and technology. The world of personal adornment (jewellery) has in the main been dominated by the extraordinarily high cost of elements used (eg: Gold ). For any artist cost of elements used is a most certainly a consideration if they are to create with gold. Herein lies Pattos’ decision to use alternate metals, which mimic gold , look and
feel like gold, but in and of themselves are worthy alternative materials. Whilst the cost of materials is still high, however, had Pattos not made this fundamental creative decision her capacity to create outstandingly complex and metal hungry pieces to date , would have certainly been curtailed. Please refer to material Index for further material specifications. Georgia Pattos’ innate desire is to: • Be part of the trend which aspires to create, develop, revive and consequently maintain artisanal handicraft-based works for posterity, investable heritage pieces, which resonate with the viewer as being other worldly, majestic and regal.
• Demonstrate what can be done by the human hand , with few, if any, mechanisms, or technologies
• Express the connection between her love of history, man’s capacity to bring into existence such artefacts as fine and decorative arts,
• Create artefacts which a human physically, tangibly and soulfully creates
• Offer to the viewer or collector the opportunity and joy of seeing and if desired wearing as an adornment an artefact, which in and of itself is something of beauty,
ABOUT WORK
In many ways, curiosity, exploration and innovation aided by a diverse palette, is where her art resides. Each of Pattos’ creations inadvertently is its own personality, sending both her and its own message. The genus of Pattos’ work is vested upon her search to embed the real human heart, head, soul, hand and fingerprint
into and on her works of art, in the style of true Couture. Definition of the word Couture (Greek origin, Koutourou, Κουτουρου) “The art of creating without a specific predetermined plan/design and essentially individual, unique, not able to be replicated exactly as no blueprint exists. True Couture takes the creator into uncharted waters. Whilst for traditional Couturiers there may be a general direction, sketch etc. In Georgia Pattos’ case and method there is no hard and fast engineered plan which details execution. Georgia Pattos’ method encourages the hand and elements involved in the journey to find the being/piece yet to be created. Georgia Pattos allows the hand, somehow guided by the creative spirit to find the way … to breathe life in to the elements brought together and embodied in a particular piece. This large body of work consisting of individually hand-crafted truly individual singular, un-replicable pieces, which demonstrate a vast array of methods, techniques
and styles, many of which have not ever previously been seen.
Her mindset calls upon the cold stone of the long lost paleolithic tool used by ancient artisans, the last vestiges of Nefertiti’s funereal gifts, inspired by the fragile highly decorative clay of an Ancient Greek geometric vase, the multicoloured detail of a Minoan fresco and last but not least , the flying buttress based arch of a Byzantine church.
METALS & TECHNIQUE
Every minuscule component passes through Pattos’ hands, leaving inevitable memory and energy within the elements as they are brought together to create the piece. It, the piece being brought into existence, invariably embodies the energy of its creator, Pattos.
Each and every material element used by Pattos is extensively researched, then a piece is notionally, conceptually, considered. Pattos focuses on the emphatic individuality of the process required for each piece, rather than be controlled by any predetermined regimen imposed by formal design. Pattos is attuned to the vagaries of the elements used and works well with and in many ways, celebrates those vagaries, thereby breathing life into truly individual artefacts. No heat, machinery or glues is used. Materials are, what Pattos refers to as being, ‘girdled together’ in non-traditional , yet womanly ways to secure adornments; a method devised, described and named by Pattos as ‘The Gordian Knot Method*’. Based on Pattos’ own extensive, on-going research, her technique has never been used or seen before. Pattos has created a new method. Loosly basing her work on the Couture sector, this knot method relies solely on the hand and rudimentary tools in order to build or create her artefacts. Ultimately, it is all of these criteria that have driven the emergence of this particular ‘Artefacts Ancient’ portfolio and other portfolio works held in her collection.
FINALS
Early collectors/patrons ( both male and female) who have invested in Pattos’ work recount the feeling of ‘power’ when pieces are held and/or worn. This may well be due to the inherent contact made between Pattos and the elements during the creative process. Pattos has recently started a new collection of Minoan Civilisation inspired pieces made of Argentium and Golden wire threads, variously embellished with rare double pearls , Obsidian, rock Crystal, crystals and other semi-precious Stones.
MATERIALS INDEX
Various Metals in Wire Thread form sourced from various precious/semi-precious metal fabricators globally. All materials used are real metals and ethically and sustainably sourced. Gold Filled, Argentium Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold Plated, Copper enamelled with Gold, Titanium, Stainless Steel, Aluminium, Gold Plated Aluminium Gauges: 6 - 50 gauge A very broad range of metal threads (wires), metal sheets, and findings. Some sheet, forged metal (Gold filled Bronze/ Brass, Aluminium, Argentium Silver) Argentium Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold Filled, Gold Plate on Brass, Titanium, Enamelled Copper, Stainless Steel, various vibrantly coloured Metals. Full range of gauges, textures ( i.e. wadded &/or frayed metals) & profiles: 8-50 gauge wire utilised. Stone Embellishments: Stone sizes vary from 0.02Ct - 160 Ct Stone types: Amethyst, Amazonite, Ametrine, Ruby, Topaz, Agate (various), Aquamarine, Grandidierite, Turquoise, Onyx, Labradorite, Druzy, Smoky Quartz, Prehnite, Jasper, Lapis Lazuli, Citrine, Fluorite, Rose Quartz, Sapphires, Emeralds, Green Quartz, raw/rough Diamonds, Crystals, Crackled Quartz & Ethiopian and Australian Opals. Pearls: Various, South Sea, Baroque, Natural, Mabe, Biwa & Tahitian.
OTHERS
Acrylic on Canvas produced and inspired by Historical, Figurative, Nudes, Abstract and Still life. 1993 onwards Sculpture created by Soapstone, inspired by Neo Classic.
TERTIARY QUALIFICATIONS
Monash University, BA of Education, Dip Ed.
LaTrobe University, Studies at Masters of Education level (Psycholinguistics)
WORKING LIFE
Educator at Monash University (previously CIT)
Entrepreneur Logistics sector (Australia), 1986-2003
Entrepreneur Mobile App Development, FinTech & All IP Communications (USA and Europe), 2009-2011 Lifetime Practising artist
TRAVEL
Egypt, USA, Mexico, Puerto Rico, UK, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, Israel, Cyprus, Fiji, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Dubai, Spain, Korea, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand.
ARTEFACTS
Items of personal adornment All the metal pieces in Pattos’ portfolio are essentially Artefacts or items of personal adornment. Artefacts are by definition a human i.e .hand devised creation; the
‘artefact’ classification reflects the manner of their creation, rather than jewellery, even though these pieces may/will (and are) ultimately worn as adornments (jewellery). These pieces are defined in this way as they are quite dissimilar to modern contemporary jewellery (particularly a different methodology). https://www.google.
com/search?rls=aso&client=gmail&q=artefacts&authuser=0
*These elements bring a metamorphosis to her chosen medium, strands/threads of wire, ‘Gordian Knotted’ together with other precious elements, jewels and thus objects of modern art are born. Constructing artful forms out of what might otherwise seem a mass of senseless materials…
**Wire Thread Couture work , guided by Georgia Pattos’ imagination, transforms the medium of threads/ strands of wire (golden, or Argentium silver, gold, gold filled or enamelled copper, brass, bronze, stainless steel, titanium wire ) into the means and materials of her art.
special thanks: Neva Weber of Dressed AU; Hayden NG of ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase