Date of Award
Spring 5-31-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Jewelry and Metalsmithing
First Advisor
Seth Papac
Second Advisor
Timothy Veske-McMahon
Third Advisor
Peter S. Dean
Abstract
This thesis investigates jewelry as a medium for emotional escape and psychological refuge, offering multisensory alternative forms of escapism. Rooted in personal experiences of continuous change and instability, the work explores how imagined spaces—constructed through AI-generated and digitally assisted visuals and layered material processes—can serve as intimate sanctuaries. Drawing from psychological theories, surrealism, and escapism, the study positions jewelry as a portable interface that enables temporary retreat without full detachment from reality. The series of work, which integrates transparent acrylic, visual layering, and subtle dimensionality, materializes these imagined spaces into wearable forms. These pieces invite reflective engagement, allowing wearers to momentarily disengage from daily pressures while maintaining agency and presence. Ultimately, the body of work reframes escapism, not as avoidance but as an intentional act of restoration, grounding fantasy within the lived experience.
Recommended Citation
Min, Jung Ki, "The Portals: Jewelry as a site of escape and solace" (2025). Masters Theses. 1380.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1380
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Aesthetics Commons, Art Practice Commons, Contemporary Art Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Interactive Arts Commons, Metal and Jewelry Arts Commons, Philosophy of Mind Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Visual Studies Commons