As the initiator of the project, Slawomir Fijałkowski, emphasises, Unnecessary Jewellery is a story about apparent superfluity. Jewellery - although not necessary in a utilitarian sense - has for centuries remained a strong sign of belonging, status and self-expression. It is this non-obvious role that the invited artists emphasise, treating adornment as a personal manifesto rather than a seasonal accessory.
Eighteen artists from Poland, Austria, Finland, Great Britain, Mexico and South Korea were invited to participate in the second edition. Each of them interprets the watchword in their own way - reaching for both classical goldsmithing techniques and non-gilding solutions, but always with uncompromising attention to detail.
Variety of forms, common language of quality
The exhibition consists of several dozen jewellery objects - objects of everyday and unusual use, whose value does not pass with fashion. We will find here organic compositions by Eero Hintsanen and Anna Sikorska, sculptural forms by Jarosław Kollec, figurative ornaments by Adriana Lisowska or structural realisations by Youjin Um. Despite their formal diversity, all the works are united by their high quality of execution and real utility. As a whole, they offer a clear alternative to the unified aesthetic of mainstream jewellery - that of mass production, devoid of narrative and individual character.
Munich - the international art jewellery scene
Launched last year as a cyclical event, in its first instalment the project was presented in Munich, Warsaw, Poznan and Bucharest, among others. The second edition begins at the prestigious Inhorgenta Munich (20-23 February) and will then go to the Handwerk&Design / Frame section at the International Crafts Fair (IHM) in Munich (4-8 March). Further presentations are planned at the Breakfast Room gallery in Warsaw (April) and at the Romanian Jewelry Week in Bucharest (October).
A strong voice from Poland
It is worth noting that, despite the international representation, a significant proportion of the participants are artists from Poland. Their presence at foreign events devoted to contemporary jewellery - especially in Munich, associated with the legendary „Schmuck” art jewellery competition - has so far been rather incidental. Unnecessary Jewellery is clearly changing this, showing that the Polish art jewellery scene has a mature, diverse and competitive voice to offer.
Curatorial selection, author's vision
Invitations to participate in the project went to a carefully selected group of artists - the choice of participants is the result of a curatorial decision by the organisers: Prof. Sławomir Fijałkowski and Arek Wolski - designers and artists, and Anna Wójcik - exhibition curator and art historian. As a result, the exhibition is not a random set of works, but a coherent, multithreaded story about contemporary jewellery as a medium of art and personal experience.
Unnecessary Jewellery is for those who are looking for something more than decoration in jewellery. It is jewellery that is „unnecessary” only on the surface - in fact, it is deeply rooted in the human need for meaning, memory and individuality.
More information: @unnecessary_jewellery
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