There are objects in the history of material culture that always become a comparative object of archaeological analysis after their discovery. They not only carry symbolic meanings, but also reflect the pace and directions of civilisational change, value systems, social hierarchies and, finally, the level of technological development of the time in which they were created.
Emilia Kohut - ring with amber
Jewellery is one such object - suspended in a triangle between design, fashion and art, it draws inspiration from each of these fields and in each it acts as a link between the „wearer” / user and their environment. It can be a personal amulet, a carrier of group identification or, on the contrary, a counter-cultural symbol of rebellion and a manifestation of individualism. However, it is always an invitation to a conversation.
Such is the jewellery on show at the Experimental Jewellery exhibition. What would the archaeologists of the future learn from it about the years 2010-2025, in which most of the objects were created? They would have hit upon a landmark era of dynamic technological change - the spread of CAD / CAM techniques, 3D printing methods, virtual and augmented reality, but they would also have discovered a surprising renaissance of craftsmanship and skill culture. They would have been surprised by the stylistic diversity of the discovered collection, the juxtaposition of unusual materials and innovative prototyping methods, they would have witnessed the beginnings of additive technologies, which will soon dominate manufacturing methods in many areas of industry, and they would have recreated the numerous controversies accompanying the processes of implementing artificial intelligence tools in design,„ concluded Professor Sławomir Fijałkowski, who heads the Experimental Design Studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk.
Perhaps they would also rediscover amber - an important signifier of Baltic identity?
Nicholas Koscinski (excerpt from the Iris van Herpen show)
In the background of the exhibition are the profiles of the awarded authors - recent graduates for whom studies at the Studio of Experimental Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk have become the beginning of their professional activity in all areas of design. On the Studio's profile on Instagram you can find short videos / reels telling their stories, contact the jewellery's authors and watch the continuation of goldsmithing at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk.
Exhibition of original jewellery by students and graduates of the Faculty of Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk „Experimental Jewellery”
Place: PATIO - Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk
Museum Night - 17 May 2025, 19:00-23:59
Curators: Prof. Sławomir Fijałkowski, MA Zuzanna Franczak