After 35 years of “silver” exhibitions, now held mainly as part of the Legnica Srebro Festival, the institution decided to capitalize on its organizational achievements in promoting contemporary avant-garde jewelry. In 2004, it began building a permanent collection called the International Collection of Goldsmithing Art. From the outset, it was decided that the collection would be international in character, just as the Srebro Festival is international in character and stature. From among the many works presented at the Festival, the most interesting were selected, resulting in a collection that now includes nearly 400 objects by more than 70 artists from Poland and approximately 30 from around the world. In 2014, thanks to a grant from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, approximately 50 new works by 30 artists were purchased. They were publicly presented in December 2014 at the Ring Gallery.
The genuine development of Polish author jewelry began in the 1970s (at the time, it was largely supported by Legnica’s competition and exhibition initiatives). Since then, it has flourished, keeping pace with global trends and sometimes helping to create them. Nevertheless, in Poland contemporary art jewelry is still underestimated as an independent field of art. In the West, international contemporary collections are presented in permanent exhibitions at many of the world’s most renowned galleries and museums (for example, at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London).
The Legnica collection consists of contemporary, unique jewelry, as well as designer objects and installations functioning as jewelry, created by the best Polish and foreign designers. The collection demonstrates the evolution of the concept of jewelry: from a pure ornament to a carrier of specific content and values of social significance. It is organized according to two systems: chronological and thematic.
Legnica’s exhibitions have repeatedly focused on current social, philosophical and aesthetic issues, generating surprisingly original and fresh, contemporary and innovative works. In this respect, the collection and the way it is organized may prove to be original and unique not only in Poland. Functional design of small objects made using goldsmithing techniques may become a separate section of the collection and exhibition. It is possible that in the future the dreams of the organizers of the Legnica Srebro Festival will come true and the collection will receive a worthy separate permanent exhibition in the city, so that access to this heritage becomes universal.
More information on the website of the Gallery of Art in Legnica.
Gallery of Art/ii