Firenze Preziosa 2020

The Aims:
Connecting worlds - Artistic research, cultural identity, new technologies. New competencies, new skills. The role of innovative technologies in contemporary crafts. Wisdom and patience in traditional jewellery. Ethical jewellery. Sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste: the jewellery senses.

The program is already well underway and includes like every year many exhibitions, conferences, meetings, workshops, and of course some moments of socialization, concerts and a few glasses of good wine.


Invited artists:

• The list of artists is still incomplete and the program is continuously updated.
• Italian design in jewellery: the research by Carla Riccoboni.
• The great technical and creative skill in the contemporary goldsmith technique: Giovanni Corvaja.
• The contemporary Japanese jewel: Kazumi Nagano.
• The use of ancient art in the creation of contemporary objects: Suk Chun Oh.
• Patience and wisdom applied to recycle for the creation of impressive jewels: Sam Tho Duong.
• Modern silverware objects, from England: Cóilín Ó Dubhghaill.

Guest projects:

• Talking Jewellery, A project curated by jewellery historians Maria Cristina Bergesio and Roberta Bernabei. A selection of jewels from two important European contemporary jewellery collections: Pilar Garrigosa and Paul Derrez. 
• Jewels from another world. The nuns of the Orthodox monastery of Tbilisi, just like in the monasteries of the past, maintain in their laboratories the habit of producing objects of art of different types, including small pendants in gold and fired enamels that reproduce typical subjects of the icons. Two sisters from this monastery will come for FJW, to show their creations and give demonstrations of work.
• 25 reasons why to wear Jewellery, presentation of the Italian edition of the book by Barbara Schmidt. The translation and the Italian edition are curated by LAO-Le Arti Orafe Jewellery School, as a tribute to the special personality and professionalism of Barbara, and to the friendship that binds the school to the author.
• A journey to Florence. Project/exhibition by Koen Jacobs, winner of PREZIOSA young 2019, and artist in residence at LAO.
• An exhibition project by Olga Zobel Biro, Biro gallery in Munich.
• PREZIOSA YOUNG 2020. Exhibition of the artists selected for the international competition reserved to artists, goldsmiths and designers within the age of 35.
• A tribute to the Florentine history. A large selection of objects from the Salimbeni company archive, with unbelievable, fantastic engraved and enamelled silver and gold coffin, boxes, eggs, clocks, etc.. An example of how a company with a strong identity and an international clientele of the highest level, can contribute to the maintenance of traditional high quality activities, distributing the work to external laboratories that preserve unsurpassed competences and skills.

Lectures

• Maria Cristina Bergesio and Roberta Bernabei
• Giovanni Corvaja
• Barbara Schmidt
• Carla Riccoboni
• Barbara Brocchi
• Maria Laura La Mantia
• The nuns of the Orthodox Monastery in Tbilisi
• Pilar Garrigosa
• Paul Derrez
• Olza Zobel Biro
• Koen Jacobs;
• Cóilín Ó Dubhghaill

.... and much more! Other artists and curatorial exhibitions will be gradually included in the program: stay tuned.
Lao offers hospitality and free participation to curators and invited artists.
Curators, gallery owners, artists interested in proposing their participation, are invited to contact us.


Keywords:
Connecting worlds - artistic research, cultural identity, new technologies.
New competencies, new skills. The role of innovative technologies in contemporary crafts.
Wisdom and patience in traditional jewellery.
Ethical jewellery.
Sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste: the jewellery senses.