Filippo Raphael Fresh! award-winner Ka Ho Li has set himself a high target for future aspirations, receiving the 2008 award for his ‘White Widow’ jewellery collection.

Showcasing the energy and passion of graduating students from craft and design disciplines throughout Victoria, The Filippo Raphael Fresh! award has launched the careers of some of Melbourne’s best known artists and designers.

Handpicked from an array of other contenders in the fields of ceramics, glass, jewellery, gold and silver-smithing, fashion, textiles, industrial and furniture design, Ka Ho Li says he was inspired to create the collection in remembrance of the loss and grief he experienced as a child when his own father died.

Constructed using Teflon tape – most commonly used in plumbing – Ka Ho Li says his jewellery is designed to allow the wearer to interact and perform with the piece, tearing layers off as part of the grieving process.

One piece in the ‘White Widow’ collection has 3650 layers of material – representing the 10 years of a widow’s mourning – while others have only 1095 layers that represent the 3 years of mourning traditional in the Victorian era.

Check out more from the Fresh! awards here

joeliaddict@gmail.com