The selection of works qualified for the exhibition was made by an international jury composed of artists, goldsmiths, authorities, and specialists in the field of jewellery and design: Caroline Broadhead from the UK, Georg Dobler from Germany, Darijus Gerlikas from Lithuania, and Maria Magdalena Kwiatkiewicz and Prof. Sławomir Fijałkowski from Poland. They awarded the following statutory prizes:
Grand Prize – Grand Prix of the Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport for Tadeusz Jaśkowiak, whose pendant entitled. Cracked smartphone combined stone age techniques and the new media era in a formal layer. According to Sławomir Fijałkowski, the work is very strong in the context of the theme, which has unexpectedly gained additional significance:
„When it was announced, we were still before the pandemic and no one could have guessed what challenges we would be facing for two years. It's an extraordinary undertaking on many levels and in various oppositions: digital/material, old/new, functional/contemplative.
Third Prize – Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport for Miroslava Veselá from the Czech Republic for the work titled. Hope
Art Gallery Prize for Kirsten Plank from Germany for the work entitled. Face 1 – puzzle necklace
Silver Spur Special Award from the Organisers for creative courage and uncompromisingness, innovation or wit in creative expression, for Tieke Sheerlink from Belgium for a work depicting a jewellery image of a boat full of refugees with a poignant title Fine people
„The theme of the competition inspired a wide range of responses. Those that made it into the exhibition were considered – some full of anxiety about the future, others asking questions, and yet others showing a fascination with materials and how they are used, and how through the use of specific materials quite complex ideas can be conveyed,” summarised the jury chair, Caroline Broadhead.
Non-statutory awards were received by:
- Esther Heite from Germany – recognition from Lost in Jewellery magazine
- Annarita Bianco from Italy – distinction at the Roman gallery Mydaybyday
- Tieke Sheerlinck from Belgium – Foundry Services award
- Alexander Blank from Germany – Honourable Mention from the Director of the Art Gallery in Legnica
- Ruudt Peters from the Netherlands – distinction from the Association of Goldsmiths
- Silvia Bellia from Italy – award from the International Amber Association
- Ji Young Kim – award from the Inhorgenta Munich trade fair
- Michalina Owczarek-Siwak – Hopea Company Award
- Margaret Kalińska and Zofia and Witold Kozubscy – YES Gallery awards.
„Personally, I liked the intellectual approach to the topic ‘Still Human?’, including the diverse reflections that found personal resonance in all the presented works. Conceptual solutions predominated, in my opinion. Applied art is no different from fine art. Visual arts seek their expression through various materials and techniques. In some works, the material itself became the content. Furthermore, all the works achieved a high international standard, promising us an exhibition that is interesting on many levels,” said Georg Dobler.
This year's competition was quite a challenge for the jury as well – for the first time in the Festival's over 40-year history, deliberations were held online, and the submitted entries were judged solely on the basis of photographs, films, and submitted ideologies. In this way, the jury members selected works from 44 artists from 16 countries for the post-competition exhibition – they can be viewed at the exhibition in the Art Gallery in Legnica until June 20th. Films are also available on the Festival website and social media – curatorial tours of the exhibitions with the artists, this year's catalogues in pdf version, and the results of a photo session with the artists' works presented as part of the Festival.
The organisers – the Art Gallery in Legnica – wish to thank all patrons, sponsors, and donors for their support. The main sponsor of the Festival is KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., which every year provides silver granules for the winners, and in the current edition, donated as much as 5 kg of this valuable ore. The SILVER Festival was co-financed by the Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport from the Culture Promotion Fund and was held under the patronage of the Minister of Culture, National Heritage and Sport, the Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, and the Mayor of the City of Legnica.
More information: Legnicki Silver Festival
