Cominelli Foundation Award 2012

Cominelli Foundation’s International Competition for Contemporary Jewellery 2012

The 3rd edition of the Cominelli Foundationís International Competition for Contemporary Jewellery 2012 organized by the Foundation and the AGC Contemporary Jewellery Association took place in the prestigious headquarters in San Felice del Benaco.

43 artists from all over the world were selected to take part in the competition by Maria Cristina Bergesio, presenting their latest research in the contemporary jewellery field.
There was also great interest in the pieces presented in a special section by the students of the Jewellery & Silversmithing - Edinburgh College of Art University of Edinburgh - School of Design, directed by Prof. Stephen Bottomley.

The Cominelli Foundation`s Permanent Collection of contemporary jewellery was enriched by a selection of 13 artists by the gallerist Rita Marcangelo.

This year the video section was carried out by 3 students of Accademia LABA, Brescia. AGC thanks Prof. Dario Bellini, Director of the multimedia course, for their contribution.


Winners
Jasmin Matzakow - 1st prize ex aequo - Euro 1.500,00
Seul-Gi Kwon - 1st prize ex aequo - Euro 1.500,00
Bernhard Stimpfl-Abele - 2nd prize - laptop

Honorable Mentions
Emmanuel Lacoste
Zoe Robertson
Chiara Scarpitti

Jury
Chairman of the jury: Daniel Kruger, goldsmith, teacher sculpture/jewelry Art School in Halle
Michele Cassarino, chairman of the Cominelli Foundation
Maria Cristina Bergesio, historian of jewellery and contemporary jewellery
Mirella Cisotto Nalon, head of cultural activity, the Council of Padua
Rita Marcangelo, gallery owner, administrator of the Cominelli Foundation's Permanent Collection
Massimo Tedeschi, editor-in-chief Corriere della Sera, Brescia supplement
Ludwig Reinhold, director of Art Aurea magazine


Motivations of the Prizes
The participation this year was dominated by young talent and therefore the jury decided to take up this aspect and promote upcoming jewellery makers.

1st prize
The jury's choice for the first prize could not be resolved, so it was decided to split the first prize between both the favoured artists. This decision was made because the two submissions, though from opposite positions, were deemed to have the same level of quality in innovation, in the use of materials and investigation. Both of the artists' works presented attention to detail and revealed a sensitivity in their fine craftsmanship.
Jasmin Matzakow's two brooches carved in precious wood represent abstract forms that are discovered and gradually removed from the material in a meticulous painsaking systematic process, revealling an inner life of the material she works in.
Seul-Gi Kwon builds up organic forms in silicone reminiscent of sea life, playing with colour, texture and forms. The transparency in the material almost evokes the delicacy of murano glass in spite of the warm and oily quality of the silicone they are made from.

2nd prize
The second prize has been awarded to Bernhard Stimpfl-Abele for his electroformed brooches combining the unconventional use of fine silver and polysterene and orange peel. In these pieces he creates an unusual combination of textures that are perceived mainly by the eye instead of the hand.

Honorable Mentions
The three nominations are to Emmanuel Lacoste's scenographic photographs enquiry into the status of jewellery, its symbolic and historical value and the ultimate ephemerality of these qualities.
For Zoe Robertson's bubbleshaped brooches and their humerous combination of and sensitive use of uniform colour and patterned areas and to Chiara Scarpitti's fine and poetic imagery in combination with patern.