Alexander Blank: Where did the night go?

Artist list

Alexander Blank

The Arcadia of youth, with its carefree expectations: Alexander Blank felt it was time for a tribute. Often jewellery has had a symbolic meaning, good examples are the frequent depictions of skulls representing the admonition memento mori – remember you must die. However an accolade for an idealized phase of life is rather unusual. Blank’s heroes from his childhood days were the boisterous animal figures from the animated cartoons, forever fighting the eternal battle between good and evil. Now, at last, they were ready for their final close-up: with great skill and a clever sense of humour Blank cut their imaginary skulls and called these pendants Memento Juniori.

The monumental rings in the exhibition are graced with striking animal heads. In spite of their ivory-white colour, the name of this group of work is Longing for Darkness. Like the skulls, the rings also refer to a bygone time which was full of expectation: Blank’s graduation year at the Akademie in Munich, when he made his impressive black animal brooches.

Arcadia may be out of reach for all eternity, yet the future looks bright. Beyond any doubt these wonderful pieces of sculptural jewellery mark Alexander Blank’s development from a promising talent to a mature artist.

Ward Schrijver
© Galerie Rob Koudijs