By Cynthia Unninayar
As part of the Vicenzaoro fair’s efforts to support young jewellery designers under 30, it created the “Next Jeneration Jewellery Talent Contest” in collaboration with Alba Cappellieri, Professor of Jewellery Design at Milan Polytechnic.
“We wanted to encourage young talent with a venue that would recognize and showcase up and coming designers,” explains Roberto Ditri, President of Fiera di Vicenza, who initiated the project. Winners of the first contest were announced in May, and a special exhibition was held in Vicenza, Italy during the Vicenzaoro Fall edition. Organized by Alba Cappellieri, in collaboration with Confartigianato Vicenza and CNA Vicenza, the Exhibition featured 20 winning “Next Jeneration” designs, selected from more than 280 entries by the jury chaired by designer Gijs Bakker. The designs were later created by Vicenza craftsmen.
The theme of the 2012 competition was “Souvenir d’Italie. Souvenir jewellery from memory to design.” The selection and evaluation of all the projects took into account not only for their originality and the degree of innovation, but also the skill to interpret the idea of a “souvenir” in a contemporary design. Great attention was also given to the potential of the project for a future large scale production.
“The exhibition highlights the variety of souvenir jewellery in a symphony of themes. Travel, art, folklore, food, architecture, and the natural and man-made landscape have been represented in a kaleidoscope of forms, styles, materials, and colours highlighting the Italian capacity to produce well-made beautiful objects,” states Alba Cappellieri.
| This book compiles the designs of “Souvenir Jewellery, from memory to design,” a project of the Vicenzaoro fair in collaboration with the Jewellery Design Department at Milan Polytechnic. |
| Left: Silver necklaces designed by Alessandra Scarfo and crafted by Ardovari. Right: Silver and gold-plated silver jointed rings by Cristina Novati and crafted by Alba. |
| Left: QR code ring in silver and black gold by Luciana Massironi and crafted by Macri. Right: White and yellow gold brooch by Rossella Tornquist and crafted by Buccellati. |
| Left: Professor Alba Cappellieri opens the “Next Jeneration Jewellery Talent Contest” exhibition in Vicenza in September 2012. Roberto Ditri, President of Fiera di Vicenza, is standing to her left. Right: Some of the winning displays at the Next Jeneration Jewellery Talent Contest exhibition. |
The theme for the 2013 edition of the Next Jeneration Jewellery Talent Contest is “Porte Bonheur. Contemporary amulets and lucky charms.” The deadline for project entry is March 1, 2013.
