The Friedrich Becker Prize has been endowed since 1999 by his widow Hildegard Becker (1928-2018). Especially with his kinetic works and objects, Professor Friedrich Becker (1922-1997) helped to shape contemporary jewelry far beyond the borders of Germany: 129 artists from 21 countries submitted their jewelry and utensils in this year’s competition for the 10,000-euro prize.
The jurors – Schnuppe von Gwinner, Leipzig; Dr. Olaf Thormann, Grassi Museum für angewandte Kunst, Leipzig; and Silvia Weidenbach, jewelry artist and lecturer at the Glasgow School of Art – chose the brooches “Jewel_9,” “Jewel_22” and “Jewel_24” by Norman Weber from Kaufbeuren-Neugablonz. These pieces of jewelry to pin on clothing are made of plastic using 3-D printing. Their subtle color scheme was achieved by applying acrylic paints in delicate pastel shades.
Norman Weber. Jewel_24 brooch, 2022. Plastic, acrylic paint, stainless steel, 935 silver. Photo: Norman Weber.
“Virtuality unites with visionary design and relies entirely on confident use of the digital toolbox. Voluminous spheres, delicately colored fragments, and faceted forms land on dynamic curves. As a snapshot that has become an object, sculptural-looking volume is coupled with ephemeral lightness, overcoming the boundaries between the analogue and the digital, and brilliantly formulating the ineffable ambition of a jewelry designer in our time,” explained Schnuppe von Gwinner on behalf of the jury.
After his journeyman’s examination as a goldsmith and silversmith, Norman Weber studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, where he became a master student and from which he graduated. The artist has taught for many years at the State Vocational School for Glass and Jewelry in Kaufbeuren-Neugablonz. His jewelry has won many awards, been shown in solo and group exhibitions, and is in private and public collections. Norman Weber is also highly regarded for his lectures and teaching.
In addition to the winning pieces, 42 works selected by the jury will be shown in the exhibitions at the Stadtmuseum Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf (May 6 – 30, 2023) and the Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus Hanau (June 6 – July 9, 2023). The following are a few examples:
Jiro Kamata from Munich plays with multiple camera lenses to create a firework of colors for his attractive Holon Candleholder.
Susanne Hammer from Vienna reduces form and color to the bare essentials in her stainless steel Tube Necklace.
Veronika Fabian from Hungary pursues a uniquely individual approach to the theme of chain links in her tattooed brass necklace TR1506LA553-3178.
Norman Weber from Kaufbeuren-Neugablonz won the Friedrich Becker Prize for 2023.
The Friedrich Becker Prize is awarded every three years by the Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst e.V. for outstanding independent design of the highest artisanal quality. The previous award winners were: Rudolf Bott (1999), Anette Walz (2002), Peter Bauhuis (2005), Robert Baines (2008), Alexander Vohswinkel (2011), Sam Tho Duong (2014), Michael Becker (2017) and Junwon Jung (2020).
May 6 – 30, 2023
www.duesseldorf.de/stadtmuseum
June 6 – July 9, 2023
www.goldschmiedehaus.com
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Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus Hanau
Altstädter Markt 6
63450 Hanau
Germany - Link