Artist's Statement
"A thief does not belong to himself, he belongs to the world of thieves."
Justine Richards first collection promotes the notion of luxury, but juxtaposes it with the idea that ‘behind every great fortune there is a crime’. These crimes are insinuated throughout the collection through the codes of written texts, evocative and symbolic engravings, textures on designs hinting at the grip of a gun and weight alluding to the idea of a weapon. All of these elements lead the wearer to be intrigued by the hidden undertones and elements of danger.
The collection that Justine has produced is fine jewellery that merges the divide between sentimental pieces and precious materials. The collection tells the story of a Vory V Zakone member, to take the viewer momentarily into a criminal underworld far from their own. The collection still serves as beautifully hand-crafted pieces that can be worn as fine jewellery