Brussels Jewellery Week announces second edition
From April 25th until May 5th
At the end of April, Brussels Jewellery Week conquers our capital for the second time. This ten-day festival puts contemporary jewellery centre stage and focuses on the innovation often found in a precious gem. MAD Brussels, Centre for Fashion and Design, will give a stage to more than 80 international jewellery designers during the main exhibition PARTICLE[S]. Galleries, schools and studios will also be part of a fascinating walk through the city of Brussels to discover contemporary jewellery. Lectures and a Creative Lunch will complete the festival.
PARTICLE[S]
MAD Brussels will give a stage to no fewer than 83 Belgian and international artists during the PARTICLE[S] exhibition. The selected artists include some big names in contemporary jewellery, such as Japanese artist Arata Fuchi and Belgian artist Thierry Bontridder, as well as emerging designers known for their daring and talent, such as Charlotte Vanhoubroeck (BE), Joani Groewald (ZA) and Evgenia Elanic (GE).
Several Brussels artists will also show their work. Among them, Åsa Elmstam will exhibit two brooches she made from recycled silver and coal. With these, she denounces the persistent use of fossil fuels. The coal used was found on a beach in Sweden, a place where this material is not naturally present. During World War II, several ships were sunk by mines off the Swedish coast, this caused the beach to be polluted. Raphaëlle Léaux aims to use her jewellery, called All living beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, to confront the public with the speed at which life on earth is disappearing. The necklace is made of 268 rings engraved with the Latin names of all mammals threatened with extinction. With The Jewel in the Crown, Charlotte Van de Velde reinterprets the crown as a universal symbol of power and prestige. This radiant headpiece consists of fifteen rings, mounted on a solid silver necklace and wrapped with a velvet ribbon. Together, these small and modest pieces form a crown; the most exclusive and prestigious among jewellery archetypes.
As the title suggests, the theme of this second edition is particles. The exhibition aims to allow the public to reflect on the power of particles, their interconnectedness and their invisible potential. Particles can merge into larger wholes, forming the basis of all creativity. Their delicate composition ultimately creates a work of art or, on the contrary, creates chaos.
Brussels Jewellery Week Festival
Parallel to the PARTICLE[S] exhibition, MAD Brussels is also presenting the No Waste project. No Waste is an initiative that aims to draw attention to the social and environmental responsibility of jewellery designers. This project is a collaboration with Belgian jewellery schools in which students worked with used materials, giving them a second life in the form of jewellery.
Brussels Jewellery Week is not limited to the exhibitions at MAD Brussels. The festival will take in the entire city of Brussels. At the heart of the Marolles, the Be.NEXT exhibition will take place, offering a platform to students from various jewellery courses. In addition, many more creations and designers can be discovered through the Be.TOUR, a walk which takes the public along participating studios and independent jewellers in the capital. Finally, the programme will be complemented by several lectures, including a Creative Lunch with Stephanie D'heygere on Friday May 3rd.
Practical information
25.04.2024 - 05.05.2024
The PARTICLE[S] exhibition takes place at MAD Brussels: Nieuwe Graanmarkt 10, 1000 Brussels. The exhibition is open to the public free of charge every day (except Wednesday May 1st) from 11am to 6pm.
For more information and the full programme: www.brusselsjewelleryweek.com
For more information or interview requests, please contact: