Schnitt / Incision: Contemporary Czech Jewelry

Artist list

Stanislava Grebeníčková, Kateřina Matěchová, Pavel Opočenský, Jiří Sibor, Jana Střílková, Karel Votipka

Exhibition of Czech contemporary jewelry design at the international show in Munich Schmuck 2015, the largest jewelry event in the world, presented in the hall of the Czech Center under the title Schnitt / Incision, "crossing" generations of Czech jewelers. The artists use various materials (glass, steel, wood, bone, stone). The aim of this event is to show the strong international competition of unique quality of Czech jewelry.

This topic indicates not only cross-section generation, but also the most authors used techniques such as incision in the material and its removal. It also points to the reduction of decorative elements in the works and radical cross-section in the process and the inception content of the work.

Stanislava Grebeníčková (1954)
She is an experienced educator and glass artist. She studied at the studio under the guidance of Prof. Libenský at the University of Applied Arts in Prague and at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam with Prof. Sybren Valkema. She is also a big glass sculptor. Her works are abundantly represented in public and private collections worldwide and in the Czech Republic. Her work is based on the jewel cuts individual parts, which compiles and links in geometrical parts and which often give the impression of space and deceive our visual image seen glass brooch.

Kateřina Matěchová (1983)
She is the youngest issuing. Graduate Department of Metalwork at Academy of Arts in Prague under professor Vratislav Karel Novak and Eva Eisler. A characteristic feature of her work is the use to the maximum extent possible the materials and emphasizing the key element of artistic intent and boundless patience combined with meticulous approach to the work. In 2008 she was nominated for the Czech Grand Design in the category Newcomer of the Year and her dissertation “Samotvary” in 2012 in the category of jewelry designer. This collection won the Dutch Gallery Marzee "Annual Marzee Selection of Graduate Work Jewellery 2012 from International Academies and Colleges."

Pavel Opočenský (1954)
One of the matadors in the field of contemporary Czech jewelry and organizer of many exhibitions in the nineties. After studying Jewelry design in Jablonec nad Nisou and processing of metals in Turnov emigrated in 1981 to New York, where he established himself as an independent jewelry creator from unconventional materials and also began his sculptural track dedicated to the sizable stones. Is still one of the most active Czech jewelers, including representation in public and private collections, as well as the number of participation in exhibitions. His works are always a feature of unconventionality and original solution, removing and cutting material chosen according to the material used, and it does not matter whether it concerns jade, bakelite, plastics, titanium or snowboard.

Jana Střílková (1976)
The author graduated from the Department of Art Education at the Faculty of Education in Olomouc before goldsmith study in Turnov. In 2000 she was awarded 1st prize for silver jewelry studio Society of the goldsmiths' guild in Brno. Participates in group exhibitions. In her work use the techniques of mass removal. Centered on the cost of natural materials for its most prominent works include jewelry made from beef bones, which exposes the internal structure of the building in combination with added metal - mostly gold. The aim is to find a balance between so-called ordinary material and precious metal.

Jiří Šibor (1966)
He went through the studies of processing the metals and outside the jewelry creation he participates in organizing exhibitions of jewelry. Often exhibiting in international exhibitions, he is widely represented in public and private collections worldwide and in the Czech Republic. In his up to date series of circle brooches prune holes in the stainless steel sheet and these parts connects via riveting in a single unit combined with a glass or also with translucent acrylic. The layered structure is aiming to achieve harmony with optical properties, together with the contrast of shadows in internal spaces of the brooches.

Karel Votipka (1964)
The author passed by toolmakers study and the goldsmith disciplines in Turnov school. He is passionate expert to the stone which used in his creation. Cuts and grinding the stones subordinates to his own invention is outside the standard procedures and the results achieved are in many cases very surprising even for experts. In the last series of brooches is mainly engaged by the nephrite and cobblestone, where hones arches, sticks and a few millimeters weak plates.