Why do certain objects become so precious to us? What transforms a simple item into a vessel for memory, emotion, and meaning? How can we capture a fleeting moment — and what happens when that memory becomes the starting point of an artwork?

These are the questions currently inspiring my practice. I’m drawn to the challenge of transforming the past — the “been” — into something newly resonant. Through this project, I explore the idea of keepsakes not just as mementos, but as creative catalysts: a way of reimagining memory through material form.

Elfi Spiewack is a contemporary jewellery artist based in Õtautahi, Christchurch, with a BA in Design from the FHG (University of Applied Sciences), Pforzheim in Germany. Her jewellery draws inspiration from her surroundings, blending European training with a passion for 'odd' material combinations, experimentation, and play. Nature's forms, media, and phenomena often spark her creativity, while urban culture and current events influence her work. Constantly pushing boundaries, she explores new ways of seeing, wearing, and redefining jewellery. Since 1993, Elfi has exhibited in solo and group shows across New Zealand, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, and the USA.