The subject has many layers: the creators, who are rewarded by the fantastic properties of amber when designing and crafting jewellery; the wearers, who reward themselves by choosing amber as a symbol of warmth, softness, and long tradition; and the viewers, who are fascinated by the combination of the jewellery and the person wearing it. These were the criteria for the jury.
First, an international jury, with members representing diverse backgrounds and countries, selected favoured works. These candidates formed a pool of discussed works, and the jury then made a further selection. During this discussion, jury members decided on a shortlist of 16 outstanding designs to be featured in the catalogue. There was a quick, unanimous agreement on the three prize-winning works, and the happy winners will receive their awards in March at the Amberif trade fair.
Barbara Schmidt
The jury, comprising Monika Brugger (France), Anders Ljungberg (Sweden), Yutaka Minegishi (Japan), Katarzyna Rzehak (Poland), and Theo Smeets (Netherlands), has awarded the following prizes:
GRAND PRIZE – funded by the Mayor of Gdańsk (PLN 10,000) – Emma Carrau Bueno from Italy for the Amber Drops Pattern Necklace
The „Amber Drops” necklace captivated us all from first glance. This work shows how jewellery can change its appearance and character depending on how you hold it, the occasion, or the light in which you wear it. Two worlds – fabric and jewellery – intersect to create an object that drop by drop forms an unexpected fluidity. By combining two contrasting materials – one ancient, the other contemporary and ecologically questionable – it opens up space for posing modern questions about how we perceive our environment and how we live in it. Drops form around the thread like dew on an early summer morning. This creates a structure of ephemeral beauty in dialogue with the concept of time contained within amber. The method of combining amber powder with resin also reminds us of what amber once was, namely resin. The object combines mathematical rigour and the repeatability of modules with the emotionality and warmth of amber. The pleasure of wearing it, the pleasure of returning to the primal values of the material, is like a reward. There is a strong tactile element here, which can be felt even when looking at its rendering. It is easy to imagine the emotional aspect of wearing such jewellery with the drops flowing down the chest. It is an extremely sensual object that is a reward for both the body and the viewer's eye.
AMBER AWARD – funded by the International Amber Association (1 kg amber + exhibition of works in the MSB Gallery) – Alberto Dávila from Mexico for the job Still Here
The pinnacle of delicacy and tenderness in the use of amber is demonstrated in the work titled „Still Here”. It may touch upon some political theme, but its poetic expression masks it all. It is a very unexpected and felicitous marriage of two materials. However, the visual simplicity of the object genuinely focuses on amber as a material. From resin, which as a liquid is frozen in time to transform into amber, it makes us aware of the concept of time. This work poetically depicts the brief moment when the liquid appears on the mesh, just before it disappears. Initially, we imagine the bracelet as a mesh, a fence, a barricade creating an enclosed space around the arm like a picture – this is a metaphor for our modern world. Decorated with almost invisible pieces of amber, it's like an invitation to look closer. Perhaps in this way, the beauty of the world will overcome the brutality and oppression of the protective mesh. There is a poetic use of amber here, reminiscent of tears or morning dew. A very current and at the same time timeless work!
SILVER AWARD – sponsored by Międzynarodowe Targi Gdańskie SA (1 kg silver) – Tadeusz Jaśkowiak from Poland for his work „Medal”
An unusual punk object. The „medallion” makes one question what contemporary jewellery can mean today. Rebellious, rough and cynical, yet also witty and arrogant. An example par excellence of upgrading material by creating a strong image. It is an object that highlights the methodology and iconography of jewellery. The use of sandpaper as a ribbon for the medallion illustrates the work put into creating the object, which relates to the concept of jewellery as an award. Worn in a pocket, the medallion becomes a small amber biography carried by the wearer. Obvious yet complex. An object full of contradictions, soft and rough, light and dark. A work that is as much about production as it is about questioning the portability of honours. An image that aligns with the medals we saw at the Olympics, but which also honours the blood, sweat and tears put into winning the award. A conceptual medal that is not a medal, but rather a discussion of the traditional award formula. The use of amber as the highest value corresponds with the theme of the competition „Amber as an Award!”. The artist has managed to elevate both materials, creating a strong image from them that has nothing more and nothing less than what is absolutely necessary: an extremely economical work!
The jury also awarded Distinction – she received them Monastery Inna from Israel for Amber City work.
„Amber City” convinced the jury with its intriguing combination of materials: a piece of rusty chain with various stones and amber at the top. The jury considered this a good example of a contemporary cocktail ring that looks perfect in a display case and undoubtedly on a finger too. An extremely aesthetic, fresh, and original object that has a „booster effect” – you can't stop thinking about it!
For publication in the digital AMBERIF DESIGN AWARD 2022 catalogue and for the jury's photo exhibition, 16 works by the following authors have been qualified:
Bogumiła Adamska, Andrzej Adamski, Poland
Anna Monika Zaharenko, Latvia
Alain Roggeman, Belgium
Ewa Wiśniewska, Poland
Julia Obermaier, Germany
Petra Boehler, Germany
Marcin Tymiński, Poland
Ruudt Peters, Netherlands
Adriana Lisowska, Poland
Petra Boehler, Germany
Edyta Estkowska, Poland
Liliana Teodora Nicut, Romania
Xihan Zhai, China
Magdalena Maślerz, Poland
Maja Woźniak-Purgal, Poland
Katarzyna Wasielewska, Poland
International Amber Jewellery Design Competition Amberif Design Award It has been accompanying the International Amber and Jewellery Fairs AMBERIF since 1997, i.e. since their 4th edition. Its aim is to promote amber as a source of artistic expression, and the subject of the competition is author's artistic jewellery designs featuring amber, inspired by the subject of the competition for a given year. Every year, the post-competition exhibition becomes a forum for confronting artistic statements on a specific topic related to amber. Currently, it is one of the most prestigious international design competitions, as evidenced by the unflagging interest from participants worldwide, including renowned artists.
More information about previous editions of the competition:
