Tensed 3 by Empar Juanes Sanchis

Contemporary jewellery in solidarity for the DANA victims in València

My name is Empar Juanes, winner of the Herbert Hofmann Prize 2024, and as a Valencian and resident of a town affected by the DANA, I have decided to put my piece Tensed 3 up for sale to raise funds for the victims who have lost everything.

My family and I have been very fortunate—our homes are intact, and we have suffered no losses. Despite living through the night of the catastrophe in Llombai, alone in my house and filled with fear, our suffering cannot compare to that of our neighbours in nearby towns who have lost loved ones, homes, small businesses, and a lifetime of efforts. Some friends have lost everything.

For three days, I was knee-deep in mud, helping in every way I could amidst a scene that resembled something out of an apocalypse or post-war era. While hands-on help is essential in these moments, I believe that economic support will be crucial for rebuilding the homes and livelihoods of thousands of families.

I would like to thank Klimt02 and Hannah Gallery for promoting and supporting this initiative, from which they will not take any commission on sales. All proceeds will go directly to those affected by the DANA.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,


About the piece:
Tensed 3. Brooch. Agate, white gold, (exhibited in SCHMUCK 2024).
Constantly testing the limits of the stone as a material became my approach to jewelry making. My work with stone is very much about resistance, tension, and volatility where risk-taking is essential. I asked myself how much could I carve and push the limit of stone before it splits. Achieving thicknesses of less than 1mm in this agate piece I discovered agate stone could be slightly flexible, depending on the stone internal structure and geometry. This unexpected characteristic of stone’s materiality fascinated me. For this piece “Tensed 3” I set the stone playing with the tension of a strong white gold structure, visualizing this risky but exciting phenomenon and pushing even further the stone limit.
 

El meu nom és Empar Juanes, guanyadora del Herbert Hofmann Prize 2024, i com a valenciana i veïna d’una població afectada per la DANA, he decidit posar a la venda la meua peça Tensed 3 per recaptar fons per a les víctimes que s’han quedat sense absolutament res.

La meua família i jo hem tingut molta sort, les nostres cases estàn bé i no hem tingut ninguna pèrdua. Tot i haver viscut la nit de la catàstrofe a Llombai, sola a casa meua i amb molta por, el nostre sofriment no es pot comparar al dels veïns dels pobles propers que han perdut familiars, vivendes, xicotets negocis i tota una vida d’esforços. Alguns amics ho han perdut tot.

Durant tres dies, he estat enfangada ajudant en tot el que podia, enmig d’un panorama que recorda escenes apocalíptiques o de postguerra. Sent que les mans són molt necessàries en aquests moments, però també que el suport econòmic serà fonamental per reconstruir llars i negòcis de milers de famílies.

Vull agrair a Klimt02 i Hannah Gallery la promoció i difusió d’aquesta iniciativa, en la qual no es quedarà amb cap comissió per les vendes. Els diners recaptats aniràn directament als afectats per la DANA.
Gràcies de tot cor.