Brilliant generation. 20 years of contemporary jewellery at EASD València

An initiative of the Jewellery Department of the Escola Superior de Disseny de València and the Centre d'Artesania de la Comunitat Valenciana.

Exhibition coordinator: Carlos Pastor
Section curators: Idees and formes, Ángela Bermudez and Heidi Schechinger; Noves Mirades, Kepa Carmona and Carlos Pastor; Fent Tendències, Ana García Sanmiguel and José Marín.

On next 24th of May, the Crafts Centre in Comunitat Valenciana is inaugurated, within the project Espais Artesans. This exhibit gathers together the best works made in the last years by current or former students in the Speciality of Jewellery in the Escola Superior de Disseny de València.

More than one-hundred and twenty pieces are gathered, representing only a tiny but varied display of the immense creative production of our student body throughout the different formative levels, courses, subjects and professional realities. This has encouraged an exhibitory structure which distinguishes three blocks among which the set of pieces are organised:

Idees i formes -Ideas and shapes-, is the section presenting the works made in the projective subjects and jewellery and object workshops. In Projects we depart from a concept on the basis of which the students must generate an idea that will take them to the execution of a piece. The main starting points are: the use of proximity sustainable materials; bionics or the inspiration of nature; the jewel as an auratic object; the innovation in the use of typologies, and the research-based on a material. In Taller (Workshop) the students develop skills in traditional and contemporary techniques with the goal of widening the possibilities of developing a typical expressive and innovative language, based on long traditional knowledge and practice.

The section Noves mirades -New looks-, represents the freedom with which the students manage to face the final project, in Degree or Professional Training, in the last stage of their studies. It happens to be the most personal project of all, in that very moment the students rule on what and how they want to work: concepts, typologies, materials, techniques and dimensions. It is not just about knowing how to solve technical issues, but also about developing a concrete language, finding out their creative identity and recognising themselves through their work. He or she, the student must face the creative act with a risky attitude and personal commitment. The final project initiates an open process of experimentation with a future projection which is beyond the school's scope, in order to become an authentic professional project of life.

Lastly, there could not be missing a selection of pieces created by those who are already flying away independently and working professionally in the jeweller sector. This section is titled Fent tendències -Creating trends-, and it is composed of jewels that renovate traditional techniques, conceptual pieces, author made, activist, reflective, telling stories, forming part of fashion shows or participating in contests, commercialised or exhibited in national and international galleries.
Jewellery, as a profession, allows our former students to tell the world about their principles and to be acknowledged in the sector through their work. They are persons of creative vocation, who are fascinated by innovating and doing things outside the box, setting trends within the world of jewellery.

Twenty years ago…
We started teaching the students the profession of jeweller artists with the use of handcraft techniques. Two decades after, we impart the only Degree in Jewellery Design existent in Spain, a training program on Jewellery and Object inside the Product Design speciality.

How did we do it? Our aim, during all that time, was to teach the skills in jewellery matters, starting from the tradition and the profession till the training in design and author jewellery. Today, we are professionals in contemporary jewellery, an example to follow; a centre of experimental procedures, techniques, materials and use of new technologies, a pioneering and leading school in jewellery teaching, forming professionals of international prestige and a revitalising agent in the culture of design.

What does represent us? Our own proposals, created and developed from the Jewellery Department and, linked to the academic, place us on the national and international scene of the exhibition circles of contemporary jewellery. In 2012, we created Melting Point. Joiera Contemporània València, a biennial international meeting event for professionals and students of jewellery to promote contemporary jewellery as a form of innovative expression. Since 2009, we have developed La Botiga dels Joves Joiers, an annual display of contemporary jewellery in which our students from the speciality participate and which works spreading out the world of contemporary jewellery. Students and future jewellery designers bring their work closer, share and exchange impressions, show their knowledge and exhibit their creations with the transversal participation of other specialities from the school.

How do we work? With regular visits to Schmuck Munich or Joya Barcelona, with practical workshops and conferences by national and international designers and/or artists, and with several collaborations which face the students with real design problems -companies like Smart, external academic initiatives such as La ruta de la seda, or collaborating exhibition events such as the project Connexions entre Joieria i Cerámica between the Escuela Superior de Disseny de València and the EASD Castelló.
We work because of and for the culture of design defending a quality public education in Jewellery Design.

…Twenty years later we are still an inspiration in contemporary jewellery.

Department of Jewellery