South African Contemporary Jewellery Awards Exhibition at FADA Gallery

Philisa Zibi, Amaza (waves), Brass, silver, leather.
Hammering Technique.

FADA Gallery in partnership with CreativeFeel and the Contemporary JewelleryForum cordially invite you to the awards ceremony and opening of the SouthAfrican Contemporary Jewellery Awards Exhibition.

Venue: FADA Gallery

Date: Thursday 15 March

Time: 18:00 for 18:30

Guest speaker: Beverley Price

Art Jewellery Forum, Ambassador for South Africa

RSVP eugene hön eugeneh@uj.ac.za

Exhibition run: Friday 16 March to Thursday 29 March 2018

The awards exhibition will showcase finalist pieces selected from a national jewellery design and manufacture competition introduced at the launch of Africa’s first Contemporary Jewellery Forum (CJF) in the Jewellery Department of the University of Johannesburg in October 2017. These initiatives are premised on promoting jewellery as a creative medium for personal expression and providing a platform for the development of cutting edge concept and techniques while creating fine and distinctive art jewellery.

For many years South Africa has been a major player in the mining of minerals, supplying gold, platinum and diamonds to the global jewellery manufacturing sector while nationally there has been relatively little beneficiation of these local raw materials. A focus of this competition is therefore to encourage artists to innovate and create; to combine materials, techniques and finishes and to push boundaries beyond the obvious and mundane and ultimately to maximise the local economic contribution. 

Eric Loubser, 1700, Sterling silver, Found object, Fly Press Technique.

Contemporary Jewellers are in the unique position of being able to make work that crosses many boundaries - art, design, fashion, craft, engineering - and the intimate scale of jewellery and its close relationship to the body also make it a great vehicle for communication. There are many talented jewellery artists working in the country at the moment who often don't get the recognition they deserve, so these Awards are a much needed platform to showcase their work to a broader audience. Geraldine Fenn - contemporary South African Jeweller.

The awards exhibition aims to bring together established jewellers, including young and aspiring artists, in the creation of one-of-a-kind expressive or installation pieces. There are no limitations as artists are called upon to visualize and realise their ideas. 

The winner and runner-up of the competition will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on 15 March, 2018 after which the South African Contemporary Jewellery Awards Exhibition will open at the FADA Gallery on the Bunting Road Campus of the University of Johannesburg.

Lin Cheung, Delayed Reactions – Troubled Times. 2018  Brooch, 

hand carved rock crystal, 18ct gold

Pearl Necklace, In Black and White
2018, hand carved white and eyed
black freshwater pearls, 14ct gold.

International and local judges will ensure works selected will be deserving of their inclusion in this well-established niche market.  All pieces on exhibition will be for sale, presenting an opportunity for art collectors and the public to add jewellery to their collections. A comprehensive catalogue of all work on exhibition will be forthcoming, contributing to research and development in this field and stimulating much needed growth in this niche market.

Johan van Aswegen, Tieroog Tiara - Photographs - Jinkyun Ahn.

Exposure of the winning artist’s pieces and that of the runner-up in the April 2018 issue of CREATIVE Feel will gain them national and international recognition.

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