The Primitiva Talismans

Finland (2014-ongoing)

The Primitiva Talismans is a collection of 40 ‘objects of awareness’, created by Katrín Ólína between 2014 - 2017. The intricate pieces are created digitally and then cast in bronze by jewellers at Kalevala Koru, in Helsinki, Finland. Their design and development manifests a deep research into digital technology, 3D printing and modern industrialisation. The Primitiva Talismans explore self identity by reconnecting mind and body in an ever more complex, interconnected, and uncertain world.

Photography by Saga Sig

Aska is a fictional character created and developed by Katrín Ólína. An explorer, her job is to experiment and learn, gather knowledge and correspondingly share her discoveries through her presenter. Aska, has been actively traveling since 2009. In 2013, she unexpectedly discovered the basic Primitiva shape while traveling on planet Venus. The shape, also referred to as the ‘line of beauty’ became the building block of the Primitiva Talismans. All the Talismans are created with this one single basic unit.  

The Talisman of Courage is the sun itself, around which the earth revolves. This represents the life source that structures our daily routine, in turn divided into twelve equal sectors. It can be read as a shield used in battles by a brave warrior or the wheel of a ship on a quest to discover new continents. 

The Talisman of Completion is a shell, a nautilus with chambers that illustrate the iterative process of a project. Nature is always an on-going process, she completes each stage while simultaneously working on a new wonder. She is at once always complete but never finished.

The Primitiva Talismans are wearable uni-sex pieces of bronze jewellery. They are used as meditation or awareness tools, fashion accessories and small art pieces. Their design and durability is timeless. The objects are cast in bronze and covered in black patina but through age and exposure, they become increasingly brilliant until naturally gathering the green bronze patina.Buy a Primitiva 

Aska puts knowledge into practice.