Conversions between Lutheran reform and contemporary jewelry

Since 1984  the  Schmucksymposium in Erfurt takes place every two years in the German city of Erfurt, with the aim of supporting the creative work of jewellery artists. A group of artists invited for this occasion and Volker Atrops, artist in residence at Erfurt in 2009, have worked together in July 2010 for the preparation of a symposium on the theme of Martin Luther's journey to Italy between 1510 and 1511. This journey was the  turning point in the life of the great theologian who initiated the Reformation and had a huge impact across the continent, not only on the  political history but also on social relations and costume. 
The radical questioning of decoration (the churches, but not only ..), the reference to a vision of monastic life (with the condemnation of ornament), the establishment of principles which then unexpectedly became the foundations of capitalist ethics are all themes that are of great interest to art and  art jewellery.