This year’s turnout is significantly better than last year’s, in which 93 projects were submitted by 75 authors from 19 countries. There are also more foreigners among the award-winning and distinguished works. And how did the international jury, composed of Stephen Bottomley (chairman) – Scotland, Ramon Puig Cuyas – Spain, Aleksandra Mokwa – Poland, Inger Wästberg – Sweden, and Arkadiusz Wolski – Poland, decide in detail at the meeting on February 11? The jury decided to award the following prizes:
GRAND PRIZE Funded by the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk, Paweł Adamowicz (10,000 PLN) Marcin Tymiński
A sophisticated combination of Baltic amber, polymer and steel. The jury unanimously decided that this work deserves the main prize as elegant and simple contemporary jewelry. The way the sequins are applied and the work surfaces direct and scatter light, creating a shiny guiding light for the design.
AMBER AWARD Funded by the International Association of Amber Collectors (1 kg of amber) – Annalisa Mercier (France)
Direct honesty in the harsh carving of the face. This work is an example of the intuitive and sensitive handling of an extraordinary material.
SILVER AWARD (1 kg of silver) – Suzanne Elstner (Germany)
The jury particularly appreciated the contrast between the organic elements of carbon and amber and the color difference between the dark texture and the light translucency. The way the material was processed suggests an interesting movement, highlighted when worn on the body.
The jury decided to award two distinctions for:
Maren Giloy (Germany) – The jury concluded that this project is an example of the versatility and understanding of amber as a raw or polished material.
Miron Kutarba – The jury praised the clean, modern design that references the change from the liquid to the solid state of amber.
The following authors’ 16 works were selected for publication in the AMBERIF 2017 catalog and for the jury’s exhibition:
Michał B. Fatyga, Poland
Martina Signerova, Czech Republic
Justyna Stasiewicz, Poland
AnnaMaria Zanella, Italy
Philip Sajet, France
Maria Domenica Pittorru, Italy
Giulia MAESTRIPIERI, Italy
Yuri DI MARCOBERARDINO, Italy
Saerom Kong, Korea/Germany
Andrzej Kupniewski, Poland
Hamed Jafari, Iran
Sławomir Fijałkowski, Polska
Sabine Flexer, Germany
Philip Sajet, France
Zhang Hao, Italy
Miron Kutarba, Poland
The awarded and prize-winning works will be presented at a special exhibition at the Amberif International Fair of Amber, Jewelry and Gemstones in Gdańsk (22-25.03.2017).