Creating physical and physiological experiences for wearer and viewer Selina Shanti Woulfe creates sensory experiences with jewellery.

In 2009 Selina graduated from Unitec Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Design majoring in Contemporary Jewellery. That year Selina was selected for the annual Objectspace Best in Show award. Since then she has been included in a number of exhibitions both in New Zealand and overseas. Her work has also been featured in a number of publications including Prezioza Magazine, 'Selina Woulfe: il corpo come materia da manipolare', published 2013; Scope Art Journal: Border Crossings, 'Skin Boundaries' published 2012 as well as in

Selina’s jewellery explores different rituals drawn from her mixed European and Pacific cultures, through jewellery and the body (skin and hair) connecting her to her ancestors. With Selina’s jewellery she tests how skin can also be manipulated with the object – often piercing the skin – to push physical and physiological limits for both the wearer and audience. Skin is constantly changing, stretching, healing and ageing and natural skin adornments such as warts, moles or freckles are points of intersection for her jewellery and the skin itself, which, for Selina is a direct connection to both ones past and present. In 2014 with Bloodline Rituals we saw the introduction of hair and hair combs being used to contemplate Indigenous female practices and how they have become diluted overtime within Western societies.

In the Silvergraft series Selina presents video and photographic documentation exploring the idea of rituals. Some elements of this work resemble practices of Samoan tatau. It often takes days to complete a Pe’a or tattoo received by Samoan men and because of that pain and scale the wearer enters a process of physical and physiological preparation. Drawing on this, the steel woven brooch like pieces are pierced onto the skin of the wearer, invoking a sensory experience for the audience as well. The form itself replicates the woven mats used during tatau ceremonies. The wearer of the piece must trust in the maker or master and also prepare themselves for a puncture of the skin. Not only is she drawing connections to both the past and present you learn that the process is just as important as the object itself.

Selina has exhibited in a number of group and solo shows including: Curiosity Corner, Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, 2015; Bloodline Rituals, Gaffa, Sydney, 2014; Embodied, Gallery Fortyfive Downstairs, Melbourne, 2014; Fa'amanaia/To Adorn, Artstation Gallery, 2014; Summer's Jewels, Waiheke Community Art Gallery, 2014; Virgin, Masterworks Gallery, 2014; Saloon Des Ferari II, Ferari Gallery, 2013; Everyone Talks to Everyone, The Dowse, 2013; Fabricated, Target Gallery, USA, 2013; Retrospect, Wallace Gallery, Morrinsville, 2012; The Art of Engagement, Objectspace, 2011; Touch Pause Engage, Keeper Gallery, Sydney, 2010; Make/Shift, ST PAUL St Gallery, 2010; Experiential Jewellery, Snow White Gallery, 2009; HandStand, The New Zealand Jewellery Show, 2009; Best in Show 09, Objectspace Gallery, 2009; When Crafts Collide, Te Karanga Gallery, 2008.