7th International Biennial of Contemporary Jewellery and Metal Art METALLOphone: Don't Tell me Stories

Words are only needed when they add value, when they reveal, articulate, and shape. But if they flood us, there is a real danger of drowning. Stories can be redundant, forced, artificial, frustrating and suffocating, and there are so many things in jewellery that are beyond stories, yet they bring value and experience in and of themselves. Minerals and stones, materials that require our bodies and our touch to come into their own, natural and man-made forms that catch the eye without the need for explanations. Materials and processes have meaning and agency, and all of this can be understood without words. There is a huge difference between context, which enriches perception, and an artificial narrative woven from empty words.

That’s why the biennial is asking us: ‘Stop telling meaningless stories. Tell me things that really matter. Show me only what is necessary, what you feel directly, what you want to touch and experience without understanding. Tell me about what lies behind the stories.’

How do you tell stories without doing so?

This question and topic are something of a provocation. There may be many answers. 130 artists from 30 countries talk about meanings and significances through images, objects, materials, and writing, arguing, teasing, and showing, letting the audience discover their own stories.


The Biennial also features two invited guests:
- Eglė Čėjauskaitė-Gintalė (LT) with solo exhibition UJEI at the Museum of Applied Arts and Design. From 30th October 2024 until 28th of February 2025
- Julia Obermaier (DE) with solo exhibition SILENT REVERIE at Gallery Vilnensis at Domininkonų 7, 01131 Vilnius. From 30th October until 6th December 2024.  Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday: 12.00-18.00 and Saturday: 11.00-17.00


Museum of Applied Arts and Design opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, 10.00–18.00. Thursday 10.00–20.00. Sunday 11.00–16.00.
The museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays.


Artists list:
Airidas Skublickas (LT), Alejandra Solar (MX/LU), Alexandra Bart (DE), Andronikos Sagiannos (GR), Antal Zilahi (HU), Arijana Gadžijev (SI), Arisa Inoue (JP/DE), ASOL (Solveiga&Alfredas Krivičiai) (LT),  Aušra Mačiulaitienė (LT), Babette von Dohnanyi (DE), Camilla Luihn (NO), Carina Shoshtary (DE), Chao-Hsien Kuo (FI), Consuelo Keller (CH), Daniel Jirkovský (CZ/NL), Daniel Kruger (DE), Dariusz Wojdyga (PL/NO), Deimantė Kiesutė (LT), Denise Reytan (DE), Diana Kirdeeva (BE), Doerthe Fuchs (DE), Dominyka Gulbinaitė (LT), Eero Hintsanen (FI), Eeva-Riitta Wornell (FI), Eglė Banytė (LT/IE), Eglė Širvytė (LT), Eglė Vengalytė-de Meulenaer (LT), Eija Mustonen (FI), Eilve Manglus (EE), Elli Hukka (FI), Erle Nemvalts (EE), Estela Saez (ES), Eszter Zámori (HU), Felieke van der Leest (NL/NO), Flóra Vági (HU), Frederic Frenay (BE), Fumiko Gotô (JP/CH), Gesine Hackenberg (DE/NL), Ginta Grube (LV), Gisella Ciullo (IT/NL), Hanna Liljenberg (SE), Hansel Tai (CN/EE), Idiots (NL), Ildikó  Dánfalvi (HU), Isabel Wang Pontoppidan (CN/DK/NL), Izabella Petrut (AT), Janne Peltokangas (FI), Jasmin Matzakow (DE), Jeanine van der Linde (NL), Jeannette Knigge (NL), Jelizaveta Suska (LV/SE), Jens A. Clausen (EE), Jil Koehn (DE), Joani Groenewald (ZA), Jorge Manilla (MX/BE), Josephine Rønsholt Smith & Mette Charlotte Saabye (DK), Judy McCaigh (UK), Karen Vanmol (BE), Karin Johansson (SE), Karina Kazlauskaitė (LT), Karina Lazauskaitė (LT), Karolis Černeckis (LT), Katharina Andress (DE), Katja Prins (NL), Keiu Koppel (EE), Ketli Tiitsar (EE), Koen Jacobs (NL), Kristiina Laurits (EE), Lars Joosten (BE), Laura Hanisch (DE), Laura Salguero (ES), Lieta Marziali (IT/UK), Liisbeth Kirss (EE), Loukia Richards (GR), Lorena Rode (NL), Louise Billgren (DK), Luca Adie (JK), Maja Licul (SI), Marcelo Ferreira Gustafsson (SE), Mareen Alburg Duncker (DE), Maria Valdma (EE), Marite Rudzate (LV), Martin Verner (CZ), Martina Singerová (CZ), Marytė Dominaitė (LT), Max Górski (PL), Merlin Klein (DE), Mira Kim (KR/DE), Mirei Takeuchi (JP/DE), Mona Wallström (SE), Morgane de Klerk (NL), Neringa Poškutė-Jukumienė (LT), Nikolay Sardamov (BG), Oldŕich Sládek (CZ), Oscar Wippermann (DE), Pavel Opočenský (CZ), Philip Sajet (NL), Rasma Puspure (LV), Rosa Borreda (ES), Sabine Klarner (DE), Sandra Malaškevičiūtė (LT), Sara Gackowska (PL), Sarah Schuschkleb (DE), Saulius Vaitiekūnas (LT), Sébastien Carré (FR), Sille Luiga (EE), Silvia Bellia (IT), Sofia Bankeström (SE), Stefania Sioufa (GR), Susie Heuberger (DE), Suvi Tupola (FI), Tamia Dellinger (PT), Tatjana Giorgadse (DE), Ugnė Blažytė & Danas Tamašauskas (LT), Una Mikuda (LV), Valdek Laur (EE), Valdis Brože (LV), Vendula Fabián (CZ), Veronika Fabian (HU), Vita Pukštaitė-Bružė (LT), Volker Atrops (DE), Wiebke Pandikow (FI), Xenia Deimezi (GR), Yotam Bahat (ISR/BE), Zane Vilka (LV), Žilvinas Bautrėnas (LT).


Sound: Marija Rasa Kudabaitė.
Curator: Jurgita Ludavičienė.
Architect: Simona Sigita Paplauskaitė .
Designer: Lina Bastienė.
Organised by the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, the jewellery school-gallery Vilnensis.
Partner: Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts.
Supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.
Media sponsors: JCDecaux, artnews.lt, 7menodienos, Vilniaus galerija.