Exhibition / From Walter to Valerie

The Jewellery Design department of St Lucas School of Arts Antwerp presents, from 8 February until 17 March, the exhibition ‘From Walter to Valerie’ at Valerie Traan Gallery. Together with students from St Lucas Antwerp, international and Belgian designers will display pieces of jewellery that have been made using the industrially manufactured chains of Walter Fischer.

The exhibition takes place in the context of ‘Speaking Jewellery’, a research project initiated by the ‘Precious Dialogue’ research platform of St Lucas Antwerp. The project examines the concept of ‘jewelleryness’ from an artistic perspective: what are the qualities and characteristics that make an object into a piece of jewellery? The chain – as an endless series of interconnected links – takes centre stage in this project. Although it is rather insignificant in contemporary jewellery and mainly has a supporting function, it has the power to function as a piece of jewellery. It effortlessly follows every curve of the body and forms a perfect catenary when held up by its tips. What’s more, the chain has a rich archive of social, cultural and historical references and meanings.

Designers, students and researchers worked with chains made by Walter Fischer, one of the world’s largest chain manufacturers. Located in Idar-Oberstein, the company produces annually between 30 and 40 tons of chain that are mainly supplied to wholesalers, makers and labels in the fashion and jewellery sectors. For this project, Walter Fischer donated more than 400 metres of chain, each designer receiving ten metres with which to create a wearable piece of jewellery.

Participants: Conversation Piece (Beatrice Brovia & Nicolas Cheng), Lin Cheung & Veronika Fabian, Benedikt Fischer & Benedikt Fischer, Sofie Boons, Dries Dockx, Silke Fleischer, Anneleen Swillen, Charlotte Van de Velde as well as students and researchers of the Jewellery Design department of St Lucas School of Arts Antwerp

Students: Flo De Nyn, Nele De Vrij, Daniela Piano, Tieke Scheerlinck, Ruby Solon, Marit Staes, Lore Van Duppen, Djara Van Hove, Cleo Van Woensel

Research team: Liesbet Bussche, Pia Clauwaert, Hilde Van der Heyden

www.sintlucasantwerpen.be/
www.researchandjewellery.bewalter-fischer.dewww.valerietraan.be