Interlaced Human Hair Necklaces by Kerry Howley

Kerry Howley, a 23-year old art school student from London’s Middlesex University, has created a collection of interlaced necklaces out of human hair. Inspired by damask wallpaper patterns and using her mother’s friend’s cut hair, the pieces, entitled Attraction / Aversion, have already gained kudos in the art world by winning the Arthur Silver Award 2011 from the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture.

Attraction/Aversion is a material exploration of attraction and aversion and how people can feel these seemingly opposing emotional responses simultaneously.

The necklaces are made of human hair, a familiar material that we take pride in. However once off of the body hair becomes an innate source of aversion. Kerry wanted to see if she could make discarded hair attractive again.

Through the familiar form of a necklace, and using patterns and symmetry that are instinctively pleasing, Kerry has created a delicate balance between the viewer/wearer’s feelings of aversion and attraction.

via Geekosystem & Oddity Central

photos by Arts Thread & MoDA