Juan Castro’s work is the result of the attraction and curiosity toward adornments that he has carried with him since childhood. His jewellery is created by a juxtaposition of religious adornments, old Mediterranean cultures and civilizations, history, antique treasures, mythology, an anthropologist’s definition of beauty, the Phi number, volcanic landscapes, movement, balance and the fragile line between beauty and destruction. The mixture of all of this, combined with the use of traditional techniques, makes each piece unique.
Juan Castro is a social and cultural anthropologist, who studied at the University of Seville, Spain. Juan moved to Melbourne in 2011 and completed an Advanced Diploma of Jewelry and Object Design at Melbourne Polytechnic in 2016. The connection between anthropology and contemporary jewelry design arose from his final thesis, which focused on adornments and body modification through different cultures and the way in which it develops in contemporary society. His body of work is based on traditional techniques and the inspiration of antique jewelry, all seen from a contemporary point of view.
About Juan
Exhibitions
PET SHOP - Craft Victoria 2024
Invocations - Craft Victoria 2024
Curated by Zaiba Khan
Everyone's heard of a dragon - Craft Victoria 2023
Curated by James Lemon and Bobby Corica
Orfebre - e.g.etal 2022
Unearthed - Craft Victoria for Metro Tunnel Melbourne 2022
Inside - Craft Victoria 2021
AUGURIO - Pieces of Eight 2020
Modern Mysticism - Jam Factory 2020
14 Benches - Craft Victoria 2018
NEAR AND FAR -Pieces of Eight Australia 2017
Galleries
e.g.etal - Melbourne Victoria
Craft Victoria - Melbourne Victoria
If you're interested in any of the pieces featured in the galleries, feel free to reach out directly to the galleries or contact Juan personally via email or the contact form.