These jewels have an intrinsic meaning, they were and are still used during particular events and are directly linked to spirituality. My great grandparents, especially my great grandma (Imma), were Amazights and spoke Tamazight (tamazivt), a language almost completely different from arabic, second mother tongue. The aim is to faithfully represent these figures, this by drawing them on an aluminum paper roll. The material choice is not casual either, given the fact that they were accustomed to utilise silver as a metal for these precious goods, so the aluminium is reminiscent of this very fact, a sincere attempt to reconnect the frail bond with the ancestors and their culture.
The work is part of a long reflexion developed around the Berbers or Amazights (tamazight), an ethnic group native of North Africa that has been slowly disappearing after centuries of dominion, as well as their precious silver jewels.
Nowadays, these ancient bijoux and ornaments are emulated by various design houses and costume jewellery services.
This could be viewed as an example of cultural appropriation, because the original owners are not given any credit whatsoever. Essentially, elements of their culture are being cherry picked and were stolen by colonisers such as french and spanish during the scramble for Africa till recent days.
The name RTI is a reference to the polynomial texture mapping (Reflectance Transformation Imaging) technique used for the conservation and restoration of cultural property.