A CONCRATE DIALOG
contemporary jewellery & design
jewellery presenter objects
cooperation with Gigi Mariani
curated by Eliana Negroni – 2023
The contemporary jewellery guardian objects were born from the cooperation between Gigi Mariani – goldsmiths and Boglárka Mázsi – designer with the curatorial work of Eliana Negroni – Director of Archivio Negroni. Presented during Milan Design Week 2023 at Archivio Negroni.
This collection of design objects reflects Gigi Mariani’s work, in a functional, yet poetic way. As a result, four type of sculptural objects where designed and made by Boglárka Mázsi with the aim to protect and highlight Mariani’s jewels in a home environment.
Photos by: Angela Petrarelli for Archivio Negroni
Travel expenses where supported by ‘NKA’ National Cultural Found of Hungary
A Concrete Dialog
the cooperation of Gigi Mariani and Boglárka Mázsi
Archivio Negroni hosted the exhibition ‘A concrete dialogue’ on jewellery research and object design.
On the occasion of the Milano Design Week, Archivio Negroni presented the project ‘A concrete Dialogue’, a face-to-face interaction between research jewellery and object design, through the works of Gigi Mariani and Boglárka Mázsi. Born from the occasion of the Gioielli in Fermento Award.
From the mutual exchange of experiences, from an open reflection looking at the personal context of the two authors, a collection is born in symbiosis: Mázsi’s objects intervene where Mariani’s sculpture-rings find rest from the daily wear.
A concrete collaboration between jewel and object, played not only on the effects of the materials, but above all on their nature and formal character: concrete is the cement, at the basis of the works of Boglárka Mázsi and concrete is the material effect of the niello, a distinctive feature of the contemporary jewellery works by Gigi Mariani.
The concept of the contemporary jewellery guardian objects
The nobility that radiates out of concealment, the light, – obscured by the ordinary – yet shines through the darkness, illuminating the path towards hope.
It is the gentle interplay of distinctive fracture lines, geometric forms and contrasting material qualities that has inspired Mázsi deeply in Gigi Mariani’s work.
Where does one draw the line between a jewel and an object? In our post pandemic world, where is the place for jewellery typically worn at social events? What stops us from turning them into the centrepiece of our homes instead of our bodies?
The essence of jewellery is the body. In this case, it transforms into a static, architectural form that conveys both the atmosphere represented by the vibrations of the jewellery and the wearer’s movements, and the prominent, hidden nobility that is present in Gigi Mariani’s creations.
Transformed into a jewellery guardian object, the body holds the architectural lines of Gigi Mariani’s jewellery, taking on a life of its own and weaving in and out of the contrast of paper and concrete, which defines my work. It reveals and conceals, protects, and stands autonomous all at once.
Gigi Mariani – Goldsmiths, contemporary jeweller
For accuracy quoted from the official site of Gigi Mariani:
“Gigi Mariani is a jeweller artist whose body of works is mainly known for his “painterly” use of niello. This metallic alloy -used for centuries by goldsmiths- reached in Mariani’s works a new degree of research and application. Pushing the effects and the nature of niello to their limits, this ancient technique provided the artist with a new field of research and inventiveness. Over the years, a dense, thick black surface became the signature of his body of works and the surfaces were worked in a pictorial way. Some of them were broken by cracks; some were suffering from scars and holes, and on other ones, ancestral traces emerged from the black matter.”
Wisit the website and dive deep in the astonishing pieces of Mariani’s work.
Gioielli in Fermento Award – where everything begun
Since 2011 Gioielli in Fermento organises, yearly competitions open to designers and students, emerging and established artist. Above all showing unique pieces of contemporary jewellery inspired by a specific theme each year.
In 20|21 Boglárka Mázsi’s shoulder plate – with the title ‘Memory fragments’ won the second prize of the yearly competition. In fact, the premia itself was the cooperation with Gigi Mariani. In that year as very first Yukiko Kakimoto – Japanese artist was awarded from 114 artist coming from 20 countries of the word.
On the picture Gigi Mariani’s ring in a concrete jewellery guardian.
Archivio Negroni – Probably one of the most interesting places in Milan
Director Eliana Negroni, daughter of the founder Eduardo Negroni revitalized the famous engraver family’s workshop as an archive. The space went through a serious architectural and functional refurbishment. Besides the new exhibition and conference area, the old workshop is kept in its original form.
While contemporary jewellery exhibitions take place regularly in Archivio Negroni, history plays a great role in it. In fact, all the original equipment of the workshop is still in function on its original place. Which means for those who visit Archivio Negroni as an enthusiast, a magical old world opens that is almost impossible to find anywhere. As they say: “The various drawers reveal, catching the visitors by surprise, the craftshop artefacts – rolling mill rollers, punches and moulds for decorations and ornamental details. Not only that, but the big folders kept in the storeroom, and on the shelves of the workshop, treasure what is around 1500 drawings and photographs, over 600 hand chiseled models and bronze castings, 800 chalk and resin calques and 2700 matrices.”
If you are in Milan, Archivio Negroni is a must visit place for you!
For orders of the objects, please contact
IT
archivio negroni srl
eliana negroni
Via Filippo Tajani 3
20133 Milano
T +39 0523 864773
attrezzeria@archivionegroni.it
HUN
OBAIKO Bt.
Ákos Eleőd
2821 Gyermely
Szomori u. 23.
+36302457997
info@obaiko.art
List of Contemporary Jewellery Guardian objects
Concrete, paper – 16x16x14 cm | 16x16x27.3cm
