News from the Permian-International Contemporary Jewellery Art and the Petrified Forest of Chemnitz

Artist list

Georg Dobler, Beate Eismann, Mari Ishikawa, Margit Jäschke, Birgit Laken, Heike Lau, Märta Mattsson, Martin Papcun, Deganit Stern Schocken, Flora Vagi, Beate von Appen

The Chemnitz Museum of Natural History and the Chemnitz Association of Artists combined in their joint project to present the Petrified Forest of Chemnitz, an important local geological feature, in the context of international contemporary jewellery art. The fascinating aesthetics of this 291 year-old silicified wood was the focus of a workshop for eleven renowned jewellers. The project curator prof. Ines Bruhn invited them to an exciting process.

Integrating these materials into pieces of jewellery and other artefacts shall provide further insights into the continuing dialogue between art and nature as well as throwing light upon the manifold of artistic reflections. Inspired by ongoing research work at the Chemnitz Museum of Natural History, through current excavations and significant scientific discoveries, the artists are in apposition to make their own individual thematic connections, opening up new possibilities for the interpretation of Natural History. Even when the Chemnitz Petrified Forest was first discovered approx, 300 years ago, people began producing pieces of jewellery and small boxes out of the silicified wood. Now this traditional craft of processing material uniquely found in Chemnitz has been linked to modern experimental design. Coupling scientific research with artistic expression, Natural History is brought into a more sensually perceivable perspective.

Most of all unique jewellery pieces and objects are presented in the current exhibition at Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus Hanau.

Ines Bruhn, Promoter and Curator
ines.bruhn@web.de
www.inesbruhn.de
+49-371-642723

Dr. Ronny Rößler, Director of Museum of Natural History Chemnitz
roessler@naturkunde-chemnitz.de