BOUTIQUE & UNIQUE
Above: Vase neck piece. Right: Coral brooch.
Rei Minohara-Starke Story by Brittany Pfeiffer.
When Rei Minohara-Starke was working in the IT industry in Japan, she never dreamed she could have a viable career in the arts. Ten years – and an international relocation later – and Rei is doing exactly that in her adopted home of Victor Harbor. Wanting to break free from the daily work grind, Rei began her visual arts career after arriving in Australia almost a decade ago. ‘I wanted a more sustainable job that wasn’t as fast paced in comparison to back home,’ says Rei. She wanted to explore using her hands to craft works reflecting organic forms and the beauty of nature, and so jewellery seemed like a natural choice. Her creative process is intuitive, freeform and organic. ‘I tend to let my hands do the thinking, sometimes not knowing what my outcome will be,’ says Rei. Rei primarily works with silver clay – otherwise known as precious metal clay – to create handmade jewellery from her home studio in Victor Harbor. Silver clay is a recycled, sustainable silver that, as the name suggests, is easy to manipulate to create effective textures through hammering and etching. The elegant forms and textures that characterise her pieces are inspired by her local surrounds, from the broad coastal views to the minutiae of the Fleurieu’s native flora she encounters on her daily walks. ‘[The] Australian surroundings are very different to Japan and is one of my greatest sources of inspiration,’ she says. This approach is reflected in her latest collection which features a number of pieces inspired by golden wattles. These pieces
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used the distinctive spherical flowers to create a mould for the silver, before the raw material was then manipulated and fired in a kiln at a high temperature to create the final outcome. Reflecting her Japanese heritage, Rei often uses a metal alloy called shibuichi – meaning ‘one-fourth’ in Japanese – which refers to the typical formulation of one part silver to three parts copper. Depending on the formulation used, a wide range of colours can be achieved, from shades of grey through to a bronze lustre. Rei has crafted several pieces using this technique, reflecting the juxtaposition of Japanese and Australian culture by coaxing this traditional Japanese material into the different shapes and textures of Australia’s indigenous flora. Another strong source of inspiration for Rei is the feedback she receives from locals and customers. ‘Jewellery is such a personal choice, so it fills me with warmth when someone buys one of my pieces – there is nothing more uplifting and it is the reason why I continue to craft jewellery,’ Rei says. While Rei mostly specialises in jewellery making, she’s no stranger to visual art. She’s been working on mixed media that mirrors her jewellery through her choice of colours and textures used, creating a unified approach. When viewed together, the pieces complement one another. Each item Rei creates is entirely unique – from dainty rings to textured brooches. The evident craftsmanship in each work is breathtaking. Rei mentions, ‘I’m so lucky to be able to have a career out of something I love. This wouldn’t be possible at home in Japan.’
