2nd Latin American Contemporary Jewellery Biennial 2018 Winners

The selected and winning pieces will be exhibited from September 14th until November 4th at the “Museo de Arte Popular José Hernández” in Buenos Aires, as part of the Biennial, that will give place to a number of activities associated with contemporary jewellery, spreading throughout the city and different points in Argentina: there will be days for reflection, exhibitions, workshops, interviews, talks and conferences.

With great emotion, Joyeros Argentinos and the Museo de Arte Popular José Hernández announce the prizes of the competition “Neighbors” (Vecinos) of the II Latin American Biennial of Contemporary Jewelry.
We warmly congratulate each of them -
Awards Winners
1st Prize: Vania Ruiz, Chile. Brooch “The new Neighbours” (Joya Brava Member).
2nd Prize: Lorena Lazard, México. Pendant and brooches “Tierra V, VI y VII”.
3rd Prize: Rita Soto, Chile Brooch “Wild Parasitism” (Joya Brava Member).

Honourable Mentions
Prize Joya Argentina: Laura Leyt. Necklace “Reliquary”.
1st Honourable Mention: Dania Chelminsky, México/Israel. Brooches “Opuntia 1, 2 y 3”.
2nd Honourable Mention: Cristina Celis, México. Brooches “Bang, bang”, “Ponchis, Ponchis” y “Wuuf, wuuf”.
3rd Honourable Mention: Elvira Cibotti, Argentina.  Necklace “Little Poncho”.
Honourable Mention of the Jury: Raquel Bessudo. Brooches “Shared Spaces II y III”.

Jury
- Felicitas Luna (Argentina, director of the Museo de Arte Popular José Hernández)
- Leda Daverio (Argentina, contemporary jeweler, visual artist and teacher)
- Nuria Carulla (Colombia, contemporary jeweler and teacher)
- Jorge Manilla (Mexico, contemporary jeweler, teacher and artist)
- Jorge Castañón (Argentina, contemporary jeweler, teacher, JA curator)
- Fabiana Gadano (Argentina, contemporary jeweler, teacher, JA curator)
 

A view of Latin American contemporary jewelry

On Tuesday, July 3rd, the award jury of the II Latin American Biennial of Contemporary Jewelry composed by Nuria Carulla, Jorge Castañón, Leda Daverio, Fabiana Gadano, Felicitas Luna and Jorge Manilla met to decide the prizes to be awarded by the Biennial for the “Neighbors” contest.

The members of the jury examined the tables which were covered with pieces of jewelry coming from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, México, Perú, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. They first discussed informally what most caught their attention, approaching criteria and views. In a second instance, the jury went from table to table discussing in depth each of the pieces. They thus obtained a first selection that was narrowed by debates, agreements and reflections. The following are some of the general conclusions with regard to the parameters used for selecting the prize winners among the works that were presented.

A first consideration was about the excellence of the manufacture: in a piece participating in a competition everything has to have a perfect solution: front and back, mechanisms, systems, surface finishes; a work that shows sufficient experimentation and research of materials and their possibilities.

With regard to volume, the members of the jury considered that many of the proposals that were presented were made in two dimensions, without showing any exploration of growth in space. They highlighted the works that evidenced decisions on volume or planes and related directly with the proposal. With respect to the dimensions, they appreciated the proposals in which the choice of size strengthened them conceptually.

Priority was given specially to those works which developed an integral design of the piece, where even the small parts, including those not visible, had been taken into account.

With regard to the choice of the materials, they were interested in the proposals in which there was clearly a search and a decision concerning what was meant, a non-decorative but justified use.

They also took into account the relationship which the piece establishes with its user. The jurors tried on and exchanged the pieces of jewelry in order to see them on different bodies. This was repeated several times throughout the day.

Finally, the manifestation of an own language, unique, with identity, with the integration of idea, image and poetry.

It was an intense day of work.  It was wonderful to hear them speak with so much respect about each work, but also with an absolute critical spirit.

The aim of the Latin American Biennial is to grow collectively and individually, and for this, we have to be encouraged to show what we do, see it, appreciate it, evaluate it, criticize it.  Latin America possesses a spirit of its own which is essential to value and highlight, especially in the global contemporaneity. To look and look at ourselves. Learn from each other. Participate.

/ Paula Isola, Joyeros Argentinos