Amber in Contemporary Art Jewellery

Artist list

Andris Lauders, Claudia Steiner, Eva Tesarik, Eve Margus-Villems, Fanni Vékony, Gigi Mariani, Guntis Lauders, Heidemarie Herb, Helfried Kodré, Jānis Vilks, Jurgita Erminaitė-Šimkuvienė, Maria Cristina Bellucci, Māris Auniņš, Māris Šustiņš, Nataša Grandovec, Nikolai Balabin, Pawel Kaczynski, Sara Gackowska, Valdis Brože, Viktoria Münzker.

The core idea of the exhibition is to demonstrate the possible range of application of amber in the contemporary art jewellery created by professional jewellers. This area of interest is largely based on the specific materiality of amber - and its historical significance. The choice of exhibition organizers to choose „Amber Road” as the thematic background is not accidental; it played a significant role between 1st and 5th centuries AD as an exchange route of goods between the Baltic Sea region and Roman Empire. The route started in the eastern coastal area of the Baltic Sea, which at that time was inhabited by the Prussians and Curonians. It continued down the Visla up to the city of Karnunta (currently in Hungary) and further to the coast of the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine peninsula, providing Rome with the precious and exclusive material. Many Roman coins and antiquities found in the graveyards in the Baltic countries is perceived as the evidence of this trade route together with testimonies in the writings of Roman Empire era. Thus not only will Latvian and Italian jewellers participate in the exhibition but also artists from countries that Amber Road passed through (Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Austria, Slovenia, and Hungary). This exhibition will not only link the Amber Road geographically, but also historically by connecting the ancient times with the present, the past with the future and demonstrating the spectacular miracle of amber jewellery creation.

The stage of the exhibition is set by an internationally renowned fashion designer brand "MAREUNROL'S". The fashion designers - Mārīte Mastiņa and Rolands Pēterkops created their first joint collection in 2002 while still being students at Riga Applied Art College. Since then, they have participated and received awards in various international fashion and arts festivals, including the International Fashion and Photography Festival in Hyeres (France). (www.mareunrols.com and http://putti.lv/en/mareunrols )