ŠperkStret 2015

Special edition of the international contemporary jewelry conference in Bratislava Šperk Stret 2015 CZ / SK edition (September 25, 2015, Café Berlinka, SNG, Bratislava) was to meet professional artists and experts within the topic of Czech and Slovak contemporary authors jewelery. The aim of the conference was to encourage interdisciplinary research and open forum for dialogue and debate on the art respectively designer discipline. In two lecture sessions were presented seven lecturers: theorist and curator Tereza Vernerová Volná (CZ) reassess the historical development of the discipline of jewelry transform its functions, which are the current generation of authors reviewed again. Karla Olšáková (CZ) presented her work focused primarily on working with wood and the results of creative collaboration duo Dechberoucí, Andrea Ďurianová (SK) except her jewellery making also talked about her passion – exhibitions making, Elvira Golomboši (SK) revealed the kingdom of their fantasies and imaginary world and media art – drawing, performance, work with metal and grinding stones. Designer Zdenek Vacek from Prague’s study Zorya (CZ) talked about long way, which together with his partner Daniel Posta directed to the establishment of a prosperous company Zorya. Theorist and curator Mária Hriešik Nepšinská (SK) introduced the young generation of Slovak jewellers and their alternative view of the importance of jewelry as an object, its representation in the context of art. Educator Timothy Blažek (SK) focused on the importance of jewelry borders, since according to him jewel – object acts as varied socio-cultural character at a certain time and space. Šperk Stret conference brought opportunity to confront different views on the direction of Slovak and Czech jewelery, but also at how this relatively young discipline reflects the professional audience, whether it is a jewelery as perceived by the general public. Special edition of the conference also brought several innovations, changing the form of lectures and venue in representative areas in SNG Bratislava. The young team of organizers therefore believes that next year will appeal to a wider lay and professional audiences, which can already look forward to a theme dedicated to collecting works.

Accompanying exhibitions: an experimental exhibition of students from the studio s+m+l_XL Metal and jewellery as a result of the workshop with Andrea Ďurianová (Café Berlinka, SNG), presentation of jewellery from 21th International symposium of artistic jewelery in Kremnica 2015 in the premises of Imperia Design. Project Heading / Situations in the ring (Dana Tomečková, student of studio s+m+l_XL Metal and jewellery at AFAD) in A4 – Space for contemporary culture.

During the short years of its existence, the Šperk Stret conference has become a respected platform that is an important part of the international forum on contemporary jewelry for both professionals and lay people. It is one of the rare events of this kind in central European. We believe that, thanks to the enthusiasm of the staff and the support of the partners for the vision and message of the Šperk Stret, it will continue in the years to come.