While watching the Blood Diamonds documentary, I was instantly interested that a big problem with conflict diamonds is that if a person disobeys, is caught stealing a rough diamond, or for no reason at all, their arm will be cut off with a machete. This left them unable to work and to provide for their families. The documentary showed men of all ages, as well as women and children, with wooden prosthetic arms, with hooks for hands. These images provoked the idea that now, the amputees could never acquire a rough diamond, because they can no longer pick such a tiny thing in their hands.
The form of this neckpiece begins with a cast prosthetic arm with cables and straps, much like the ones seen in the video. Around the neck to form the chain are large clusters of rock, with a few visible rough diamonds, all cast in metal. The front of the piece is left open and unattached, to signify that the arm is reaching for the rough diamonds, but will never obtain them. The weight of the piece is significant, as it is meant to portray that the idea of losing an arm and not being able to provide for your family is suffocating for the people in Africa that are affected by conflict diamonds.
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