Fliengenschmuck. Pour les précieuses presque ridicules by Monika Brugger

Artist list

Monika Brugger

Of German origin, living in France since 1980, the goldsmith Monika Brugger directs her reflections on the intimate and technical imbrication between jewel and body, sense of the material and sense of words. The 'small and precious object' that she places above all as a social object that defines us in relation to others.

Always as surprising, Monika, internationally recognized for her more conceptual jewelry, seems at first glance by this new collection to have strayed on a new path, a gardener of jewelry. Pearls of different colors strung sometimes in clusters sometimes doubled or multiple make up her animated necklaces that invite to daydream, about a walk in her flowery garden. But oh! Surprise! If you linger, a multitude of flies and insects with huge antennas appear on these necklaces! In clusters, in a row, what are they doing? And what are these big lonely flies that invite themselves to be worn? What a strange intention on the part of Monika! Is it finally the artist's intention to play with our emotions, our senses, and our perception of this work?

Installed on an apple green wall like a garden in spring, these necklaces invaded by flies become a pictorial composition of still lifes. The 'précieuses ridicules' (elegant women of 18th century France) wore 'mouches' (carefully positioned flies). Not ugly creatures, but simple black cotton dots, they were placed on the face not only as jewelry but also as signs and messages. Even today, the fashionable woman never goes anywhere without her 'vanities' and her toiletry bag, filled to the brim with all the superfluous essentials, and admirably frivolous. Vanities, this exhibition features flies (flies...), mosquitoes, and other butterflies or dragonflies, sometimes repulsive, these ubiquitous animals long seen in the painting, tell us about our vanities and our lives.


After a master's degree in Applied Art under the direction of Pierre Damien Huyghe in 2006, she is a graduate of ENSA in Paris since 2016. Monika Brugger now teaches at the jewelry workshop at ENSA Limoges. Whether through her creations or her teaching, as much as through her role as an exhibition curator, she has acquired an international reputation. Her works are notably displayed at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Schmuckmuseum in Pforzheim, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Berner Stiftung für Angewandte Kunst in Berne, the V&A Museum in London and she has been included in the French State Contemporary Art Fund for major pieces.

Opening reception: Saturday, April 15, in presence of the artist.

Opening hours: From Wednesday to Friday: 11h - 18h. Saturday: 11h - 17h. And by appointment.