Frames and Focus. Displaced Jewels

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Artist list

Kim Buck, Fumiko Gotô, Aurélie Guillaume, Karin Johansson, Beppe Kessler, Otto Künzli, Stefano Marchetti, Gigi Mariani, Marc Monzó, Ezra Satok-Wolman, Tore Svensson, Yoko Takirai and Pietro Pellitteri

It is evident that a piece of jewelry is primarily made to be an intrinsic part of the body, but not only that. It is clear that some jewels are works of art, and even more so. It is evident that as works of art, we can move and decontextualize them to admire them from another perspective. At Hannah Gallery, we have always been interested in this decontextualization of jewelry from the very beginning. Now we want to pay a small tribute to this idea.

That's what the Frames and Focus exhibition is all about: 12 relevant works of art, 12 jewels, from 12 relevant artists, 12 jewelers. By placing each of these works inside a box, we can observe them as if we were contemplating 12 paintings, 12 sculptures, 12 objects that fulfill all the requirements and more that a work of art should have.

The 12 selected works that illustrate the concept of the exhibition are 12 brooches: The Toad by Aurélie Guillaume, Wir War NL by Bepper Kessler, Ultralight Beams 5 by Ezra Satok-Wolman, Maquette 1:1=1, A-Handrail by Fumiko Gotô, Level by Marc Monzó, iBrooch by Kim Buck, Quidam XIV by Otto Künzli, Yellow (Miró) by Tore Svensson, Untitled by Stefano Marchetti, Respiro III by Yoko Takirai and Pietro Pellitteri, Equilibri #3 by Gigi Mariani, and Time Nº2 by Karin Johansson.

Regarding the frame, in this case, a transparent box, we can theorize and say that it is an element that helps give structure and cohesion to a work, to define boundaries, to reduce space, to focus the audience's attention, to provide aesthetic value, and also, in this case, to challenge certain expectations and conventions.

Framing a piece of jewelry instead of enclosing it within the human body is a small form of disruption of how a jewel should be presented, but even more so, of how it should be used. We want to see and contemplate these pieces as works of art, pure forms, concepts, objects that have been defunctionalized, displaced, decontextualized, and therefore, framed and enclosed. Just to be observed.

We also offer collectors a different way of storing and documenting the acquired art jewelry (each of these frame-boxes comes with an authenticity certificate). Yes, this combination of creative perspective and practical utility makes the exhibition a interesting opportunity for collectors.

We consider a collection to be an important cultural phenomenon for its contribution to the preservation of heritage, the promotion of appreciation and study of art and culture, the transmission of cultural values, the promotion of social and cultural interaction, and the creation of cultural narratives, stories, and discourses. We celebrate that through collecting, one can enrich the understanding and experience of culture and contribute to the development of society as a whole.


Nichka Marobin, Curator and Italian art historian specialized in Dutch and Flemish art history, in a reflection on the concept of the Frames and Focus exhibition, says: In Frames & Focus, the frame is presented not only as an element that visually delimits the artwork but also as a structural component that influences its meaning. Through the exhibited works, it is shown how the frame can affect the perception of the artwork, emphasizing certain aspects and minimizing others. > Read the full article