Nature, Fairy Tales, Myths

Franziska Appel has invited a total of eight artists to present their work in her Schmagold Gallery in the city of the documenta. Five come from the field of jewelry, two are represented with ceramics. The multifaceted themed exhibition is complemented by the photographs of Riita Ikonen and Karoline Hjorth.

Gabriele Hinze’s jewelry pieces are inspired by natural structures and processes. She has an eye for the small details that one hardly notice and skillfully stages them using traditional techniques such as chasing and mounting. This is also reflected in her new tree slice brooches, in which every single annual ring was chased by hand.

Gabriele Hinze, brooches Kambium. Silver. Photo Georg Eichinger.

In addition to her goldsmith work, Kira Fritsch also produces the glass stones and spheres and cuts them into shape herself. Her rings with large colored glass stones are reminiscent of splendid jewels from times gone by. Set in oxidized silver with stylized ornamentation, they evoke long-forgotten stories. In contrast, her “Berries” earring series appears simple and minimalist. Here, too, the handmade glass beads glass beads, which swing on the ear like delicate bunches of grapes.

Kira Fritsch, earrings, blackened silver, colored glass beads. Kira Fritsch.

Beetle brooches in a wide variety of colors, shapes and materials are a passion of jewelry artist Melanie Nützel. Inspired by the inexhaustible diversity of nature, however, she does not imitate insects, but rather artistic creatures that polarize. In Franziska Appel’s exhibition, Nützel will be presenting a new series of earrings that make references between technology and nature.

Sabine Klarner’s pieces of jewelry could come from a cabinet of curiosities. The fairytale-like bee rings fascinate with their many original details. Lavishly set with gemstones, coral and other materials, they nevertheless do not appear overloaded. It is the wit and subtle irony of her unique pieces that give pleasure to both the wearer and the viewer.

Sabine Klarner, rings, bees and other insects. Gold, silver, colored gemstones, grandels. © Sabine Klarner.

Nicole Schuster’s jewelry is all about the interplay between nature and architecture. Plant and growth structures are incorporated as well as elements of the urban environment and architecture. As wearable sculptures, the works describe mystical places, dream worlds or abstract landscapes.

The goldsmith and designer Kirsten Wittstruck makes jewelry from gold and silver as well as vessels and objects from silver and porcelain. For all her works she draws inspiration from the structures and textures of flora and fauna. For her jewelry pieces with insects, she first draws the delicate animals on paper and then transfers them to precious metal by milling and embossing. In her latest works, the combination of differently colored porcelain masses creates unique structures that are reminiscent of flowing water in landscapes.

Kirsten Wittstruck, vases, porcelain. Kirsten Wittstruck.

Vases with scaly structures and goblet-like cups with mystical figures are familiar to Kati Jünger. Time and again, the ceramic artist surprises us with new topics and motifs, structures and ornaments, which she transfers to vessels for everyday use or unusual collector’s items with plastic or colored surfaces.

The Scandinavian artists Karoline Hjorth and Riitta lkonen began their ongoing photo project “Eyes as Big as Plates” in 2011. Beginning as a play with figures from Nordic folklore, the photo series has developed into an ongoing search for modern man’s affiliation with nature. Each picture shows a solitary figure in a landscape, covered with materials such as leaves, moss or algae from the surroundings.