Brendon Monson: Statement

My work as a jeweller is rooted in memory of place, of craft, and of inheritance. Using CNC technology, I carve repurposed native New Zealand and Australian timbers into wearable objects that speak to both personal and collective histories. Each piece reflects my deep connection to Aotearoa’s landscapes and my own whakapapa, shaped by generations of carpenters in my family line. Drawing inspiration from Victorian colonial architecture, I explore the tension between ornament and structure, legacy and loss. The intricate fretwork, turned balusters, and decorative trims of that era are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Miniature relics that speak of a complex past.