Work as Process: 250 Years Zeichenakademie

Nowadays, the Staatliche Zeichenakademie Hanau offers a large number of vocational apprenticeships and courses in the creative, precious metalworking field. Alongside training to become goldsmiths and silversmiths, apprentices learn how to set precious stones, work metal, and engrave. While some professions traditionally promoted by the Zeichenakademie have been discontinued, new training opportunities, such as computer-assisted design or 3D printing, have also been added to the program.

On the basis of contemporary works by students, classes at universities of applied sciences and vocational schools, and vocational classes on the dual studies course at the “Brüder-Grimm-Berufsakademie”, three pillars of training will be presented: Theory, basic artistic design principles, and practice in the relevant craft. Teaching at the Zeichenakademie comprises a diverse array of creative designerly and manual aspects. For example, in the exhibition, freestanding works by metal sculptors will demonstrate the important status held during apprenticeship by Sculptural Design. Recognizing the effect of rooms and spaces is crucial to spatially realizing two-dimensional lines and planes.

The exhibition’s title points to the fact that the path from task to product is no linear one. Experiments, analyses are performed, discussions are held, decisions made, and tests conducted. Ideas are rejected and reincorporated. Work is a process. The exhibition was devised by teachers Andreas Decker, director of the silversmithing class, Katja Siegle, graduate designer, and Prof. Vito Pace, sculptor.


The exhibition is open from Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am until 5 pm. The Goldsmiths’ House is closed on Mondays.
Sunday tours at 3 pm: May 15, June 19, and July 3: admission incl. tour € 6.00.

> Talk held as part of the Abendgold exhibition on June 2, from 5 pm until 7 pm. Admission is free on that evening.