EXHIBITION BRIEF
“Participants should explore the transformative power of narrative through the making of small wearable objects and how they interface with a wider audience – the viewer.” – Dr. Jack Cunningham
TRANSFORMATION
“We live in an era of continuous external and internal transformation.
In these fast and intense times, jewelry holds a unique role—an object inherently created for permanence and endurance. It carries emotions, strength, faith, and humility, along with a deep sense of responsibility that emerges in the process of working with materials entrusted to us. Experiencing all this requires time—slowing down, deep reflection, and tranquility. A detachment from everyday life. And when all of this becomes part of the piece, it transforms into a vessel of emotions, strength, protection, and serenity.
The things we observe around us take shape as thoughts during the design process. As they move through our inner reflections, they are reinterpreted, transformed, and time and again materialized into tangible reality—evoking new thoughts and emotions in others.
This endless cycle holds deep personal expression, subtle movements, and delicate, unseen connections that weave together the creator, the wearer, and the observer—infusing the space between them with meaning.” – Katalin Jermakov
At the core of this lies a fundamental question:
How does your personal story inform your approach to jewelry design, and how can it catalyse creative exploration and innovation?
The ‘time’ in the life of the maker in which it has been created, and the ‘space’ the piece occupies in the life of the wearer in the telling of its story, are referred to as ‘narrative space’ by Paul Cobley.
Transformation begins within the artist’s inner world and takes form through creation—not merely as a material shift, but as a delicate, layered process in which a personal experience, an internal journey, or a cultural memory is translated into wearable art. Jewelry is never static; its meaning continuously evolves and deepens, offering space for the wearer and the observer to engage with it through their own interpretations and emotions.
Successful artworks will go beyond aesthetics; material choices, form, and technical solutions will carry layers of thought and emotion. The challenge for artists lies in capturing the subtle imprints of time and space, creating jewelry that is not merely an object but a living story. Each piece will encapsulate the artist’s inspirations, inner conflicts, focused attention, and the path taken during its making—while also fostering an invisible connection that, through the wearer and the viewer, gains new meaning.
Our goal is to present jewelry that honors centuries-old practices while reimagining the boundaries of contemporary design.
“How does a work reflect the cultural tradition and its special techniques and expression forms? And how is this tradition implemented creatively through this work, updated, and projected into the future?
Every designer and every juror must ask themself this question that is always connected to an intensive confrontation with history, knowledge, experience, and one’s curiosity for the process of creating art.” — Thomas StangierFeel welcome to creatively reflect on your journeys, drawing inspiration from your memories, cultural backgrounds, and personal beliefs. We aim to showcase jewelry that not only honours tradition but also pushes the boundaries of what is possible in contemporary design.
“All works of art is a container in which the artist has deposed his ideas, emotions, doubts, experiences, impressions, and definitely a part of himself, in the intention of reconnecting it all.” — Ramon Puig Cuyas
We encourage you to explore the boundless potential of personal storytelling and create jewelry, that resonates with profound, authentic meaning.