Curator
Helen Britton, an artist from Australia who lives in Munich, has been recruited as a juror. She selected 63 contributions from 25 countries for the special show SCHMUCK 2021, which were not shown at the Internationale Handwerksmesse until 2022 due to the pandemic.
Speaking about the decision-making process, she said: “This is not a competition, but a selection of artists whose work made something resonate in me that day, at a particular moment. I recognized sincerity and original voices that gave me the impression that they had no choice but to make the work exactly as it is.” -Helen Britton
Winners of the Herbert-Hofmann-Prize 2022
Caroline Broadhead, Great Britain
The work shows the image of a classic pearl necklace, created from tiny glass beads. The image and status of the classic pearl necklace is re-evaluated. With a great deal of time and craftsmanship, she comments on the social and societal value of the pearl necklace. Her entire oeuvre is an intense confrontation between body, object and space.
Conversation Piece, Sweden
Beatrice Brovia and Nicolas Cheng are Conversation Piece. The jury immediately agreed that these works are expressive and overwhelming, yet subtle and quiet. You immediately want to know what they are and you are challenged to explore and recognize them. The pieces are created from natural materials such as jade and jet, combined with electrical waste. They have the ability to convey an important message with high aesthetic quality without being intrusive. The titles such as “Black-box-converter” intensify their message. In this way, they evoke conversation.
Sungho Cho, Korea
Sungho Cho’s brooches consist of Lego bricks that have been cut up and assembled into a closed, rectangular shape. The cut-open Lego bricks allow a surprising insight into their inner life. The mosaic-like composition, their colourfulness, their rhythm, the play of light and shadow, their open and closed surfaces add up to an image that creates strong associations of metropolitan architecture. The colourfulness of the works plays a decisive role. Sungho Cho’s weakness in color vision is transformed into a strength in this work.
Winner of the Bavarian State Prize 2022
Giovanni Corvaja, Italy
Giovanni Corvaja from Todi, Italy, is considered one of the best contemporary goldsmiths. He received the Bavarian State Prize for a pendant made of 1000 fine gold wire triangles. In his work, he pushes the boundaries of the technical craftsmanship of gold, which he constantly develops and explores.
