Van der Leest is one of the pioneers of figuration in contemporary art jewellery. The tales she narrates with and about her animal protagonists are intelligent and complex and depend on the comedy of the absurd. She has developed her very own language in combining textile techniques – for example, crochet – with gold, silver, and plastic toy animals. And with her unremitting enthusiasm in creating new objects, their most important quality is also combined – the joy, which she brings us as viewers while we behold her work.
 
Beyond the obvious fun, the artist’s works also show an unexpected serious side: questions on social interaction with the environment or with animals are the obvious themes here. Thus Van der Leest always reveals to us – similarly to Jean de La Fontaine in his well-known fables – the other side of the coin.
With the current publication Felieke van der Leest captures the reader with a wink of an eye into a playful and colourful world full of charming, fantastical crochet-clad animals. Be beguiled by them and discover the subtle humour and keen eye of the Dutch jewellery artist, now resident in Norway.
 
This joyously formatted book clearly mirrors the works by Felieke van der Leest.
Divided in the chapters Magic Miniatures by Jorunn Veiteberg, 1996-2007 Jewellery & Objects, 2008-2009 F.I.B.S. (Festival International des Bêtes Sportives) by Ward Schrijver on Jewellery & Objects, 2010-2014 Once upon a time in My West by Ward Schrijver on Jewellery & Objects, each starts with clear texts on the artist, her life and development. Explaining also how the jewellery changes to objects by using it more the other way round.
 
With colourful photos all works in textile, beads or other materials are represented and give a good overview of her oeuvre.
As always well-printed, commendable to both collectors and interested visitors of the expositions.
Angela van der Burght
 
Exhibition: CODA Museum, Apeldoorn (NL), 18/1/015-5/4/2015
Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum, Trondheim (NO), 4/9/2015-25/10/2015 

Photo homepage: McPufff, 2009, brooch
textile, plastic animal, gold, glass beads,
cubic zirconia
crocheted, metalwork, beadwork
9.5 x 3.5 x 9.5 cm
© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2014; Photo: Eddo Hartmann