Schmuck 2017: Wearable works of art

The special show "Schmuck" [Jewelry] is one of the highlights at the International Crafts Fair in Munich. It is accompanied by numerous exhibitions in and around the City.

Galerie Ra from Amsterdam at the Handwerk & Design in Munich

For many years, Galerie Ra from Amsterdam enjoys art jewellery lovers at the Handwerk & Design in Munich

It is a meeting point for collectors, gallerists, museum curators and jewellery artists from around the world. As more and more parallel events have gathered around Schmuck in the last couple of years, GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH, the fair organiser, will issue a Schmuck city map for the first time, with all important events and dates. Download here.

More than 700 goldsmiths and jewellery designers from all continents have applied to be part of the special exhibition at the Internationale Handwerksmesse in Munich. “The amount of applications alone shows how esteemed this special exhibition on contemporary jewellery is and how much significance is ascribed to it globally,” says Wolfgang Lösche from the Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria, manager of the Schmuck. Since its premiere in 1959, it is considered to be style-defining and the gateway for new trends in the author’s jewellery sector. It is an important platform for participants to make a name for themselves and establish contacts in the international goldsmith’s sector. This year’s highlight is the presentation of the Herbert-Hofmann awards to three outstanding jewellery designers, this time on Saturday, 11th March 2017, at 5.00 pm on the stage in hall B1, which is always highly anticipated by numerous international guests.

Cornelie Holzach, manager of the jewellery museum Pforzheim, made the final selection choice for the upcoming special exhibition. All in all, the selection of the qualified goldsmith and art historian depicts “a mixture of surprisingly humorous, ironical, colourful, serious and conceptual jewellery made of different materials,” explains Wolfgang Lösche. 67 artists from 31 countries were invited to take part at Schmuck 2017. The greatest number of goldsmiths and jewellery designers are from Germany and France, followed by Sweden, New Zealand and the United States. There are also contributions from Mexico and Iran. “The selection becomes especially interesting by comparing young and new exhibitors from Iran, France, China and Mexico with works of art from famous or very famous jewellery designers,” says Lösche.

Rings by Karl Fritsch

Rings by Karl Fritsch are unconventional and humorous. To be seen on the Schmuck 2017. Photo: Karl Fritsch

Loukia Richards

At the Schmuck 2017 are presented works by 67 participants from 31 countries, including those of Loukia Richards. Photo: Loukia Richards

This time, Renate Heintze (1936-1991) will be honoured for “contemporary classics”. She was the director of the jewellery department at Castle Giebichenstein from 1974 to 1991 and substantially contributed to the special reputation of this training facility. At Schmuck, a selection of her most significant works will be exhibited once again. Contemporary jewellery is also a topic of international galleries, which are presented in the “Frame” area, directly next to Schmuck in hall B1 at the Internationale Handwerksmesse. Amongst others, Platina (Sweden), the Atta Gallery (Thailand), the Gallery Ra Amsterdam and the Gallery Marzee (both Netherlands), Chrome Yellow Books (Great Britain), Handshake 3 (New Zealand) as well as Gallery Rosemary Jäger and the Spektrum Gallery (Germany) can be found there.

For the first time at Schmuck 2017, the exhibition organisers GHM have designed their own city map with all events in galleries, ateliers and museums, which will take place all around Munich on the occasion of the special exhibition. Additionally to information on Schmuck itself, the colourful, multipaged brochure also contains an overview of additional event places and dates plus an underground map. The printed city map is available at the exhibition; the online version will be available as of February at www.ihm-handwerk-design.com.

Gernot Leibold, brooch Dear Louise 1

Gernot Leibold, brooch Dear Louise 1. Blue pebbles, plastics, turqouise, silver, steel, 8,7 x 8,7 x 1,5 cm. Photo Carsten Birnbaum

Volker Atrops, brooch Above Swallow

Volker Atrops, brooch Above Swallow, 2016. Reverse glass painting, plastic, stainless steel, 6,5 x 6,5 x 1 cm. Photo Barbara von Braun

Annamaria Zanella, brooch Iseo

Annamaria Zanella, brooch Iseo, 2016. Silver, niello, lens, plastic fabric from Christo’s floating piers, acrylic, gold, steel, Patina, 2 x 8 x 6,5 cm. Photo Marco F. Magliani

  • Link