I saw the exhibition „Fossilised Tears” last summer at the Amber Museum in Gdańsk. I was surprised by the circumstances of its creation and, above all, by how much the gallery owner Wim Vanderkerckhove became involved with amber. I consider the very idea of inviting artists, most of whom had never worked with amber before, to participate in the exhibition to be very good. Their exceptional works confirm this.
Alongside the recently concluded exhibition of works from the 3rd edition of the International Baltic Amber Art Competition, the „Fossilised Tears” exhibition provides another opportunity to showcase contemporary amber art at the museum in Ribnitz-Damgarten. We hope it will also be an attraction for guests visiting this Baltic Sea town outside of the main tourist season.
2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the first amber art competition organised by the Amber Museum in Ribnitz-Damgarten. The first edition was national in scope and featured 80 German artists. Subsequent editions – in 1998 and 2003 – were held under the banner of the International Baltic Amber Art Competition.
Cyclical competitions dedicated to amber are also held in Poland and Lithuania, reinforcing the positive image of amber. Largely thanks to competitions and exhibitions – and especially the invaluable involvement of many well-known artists – it is possible to break harmful stereotypes about amber.
Ulf Erichson is the director of the German Amber Museum in Ribnitz-Damgarten.
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