Jeannette Knigge (1973, The Netherlands) studied goldsmithing in Schoonhoven (NL) and visual arts at the art academy in Kampen (NL) from 1992 till 2001. Since 2001 she has been combining her work as a visual artist with running her own business as a goldsmith under her brand name KunstGoud. Jeannette works and lives in Deventer, Netherlands. In 2022, she decided to broaden her horizons and got accepted at the master MASieraad (Jewellery Design and Arts). In June 2024 she graduated Summa Cum Laude with her ‘Performing Identity’ collection.
Jeannette Knigge
she/her
Deventer, The Netherlands
“Research shows that identity is fluid and can be seen as an ongoing performance. People act according to the rules in their social environment and adapt. Still, they also want to preserve their identity and be recognised for who they are. Is there an identity without a social environment, do these environments make you who you are? Can you only be understood and recognised as a subject when you look, act, and behave in a way people know?
Jewellery is a way to show your identity. What happens when you wear jewellery that no one recognises as such?”
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“Performing Identity
Research shows that identity is fluid and can be seen as an ongoing performance. People will act according to the applicable rules in their social environment and adapt. Still, they also want to preserve their identity and be seen and recognised for who they are. Is there an identity without a social environment, and do those social environments make you who you are? You can only be understood and recognised as a subject when you look, act, and behave in a way people know. People are searching for connection in their environment, but also need to stay connected to themselves.
What does jewellery do in this perspective? Jewellery is a way to show your identity. You adapt to the social needs of your environment. What happens when you wear jewellery that no one recognises as such?
The Performing Identity collection questions our social behaviour and people's expectations of themselves and others."
"Breast", Sterling silver, silicones, 6.5" x 4.3" x 1.6", 2024
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Francely Flores
“Who Are We?
I am a goldsmith, a mom, an artist, a friend, a woman, a wife, a daughter, a student, a teacher, a happy person, a strong person, a pansexual, a swimmer, a woman in her menopause, a confident person, a jealous person, a white woman, an insecure person, a lazy person, a social person…
All these people are inside of me, and I’m not having an identity crisis. It's normal to play all these different roles in different places. Somehow, I know how to behave. But is this natural or learned behaviour? Can we differentiate between our choices and those we’ve been taught?
Identity is something anybody can relate to. It can be a massive topic on social media, for instance, where you can be blamed and shamed. Everybody needs to be their best self at all times. Look nice, and keep smiling!
I’m always connected to my work; I start with my own feelings/thoughts and experiences and from that point, I will research and broaden my knowledge about the theme I feel connected to. For this project I started looking for information about identity. I got pulled into the ideas of philosophers Judith Butler and Simone de Beauvoir. Judith Butler mainly discusses gender, and de Beauvoir is one of the first to discuss feminism. Together, they bring me to something that I care about and focus on in my research: What defines our identity? How can art jewellery define our identity? When do you still fit in, and when don’t you? I'm investigating the line between what people recognise and what they don't. "
What role does connection play in your creative process?
"Support 2", Sterling silver, glass, cord 9.8" x 7.1" x 1.6", 2024 
"Identifying as a pansexual, I experience humanity as a whole and not as fragmented parts which need to be fixed in boxes. As a queer person living in a hetero-presenting relationship, I realise people judge on what they see. This raises my questions about the world where you must fit in boxes and be recognised; otherwise, your identity does not exist.
Identity is something anybody can relate to. Everybody has an identity and a way of presenting themselves. It can be a massive topic on social media, for instance, where you can be blamed and shamed. Everybody needs to be their best self at all times. Look nice, and keep smiling!
Through my work and in person, I try to reach people and make them think about different identities and ways of presenting. I hope my pieces and questions make people think about connecting to their identity and stay open-minded."
What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Simon Leung
Anything else you would like to share about this work?
This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
"Breast and Support-2 are part of The Performing Identity collection.
I graduated with this collection of 11 pieces combined with 12 portraits in June 2024. My research revealed several new research fields that I want to investigate further. I look forward to deepening this research in the future. The research and making process made me very aware of the roles I play in my life and the performer I am. Redefining myself in the world of contemporary jewellery, I found an identity I hadn’t felt connected to for a long time: The Artist."
[queerphoria]v4 @ ECU Symposium
