'A Jewel Made in Greece' exhibition

The exhibition “A Jewel Made in Greece” held in February 2014 at Technopolis, brought together for about a week most of the greatest modern Greek jewelry artists. The idea and the implementation belongs to the visual designer Mary Samoli. The exhibition has been curated  by the distinguished art historian Iris Kritikou.

In the industrial cultural venue of Technopolis Gazi in Athens, 26 contemporary jewelers, along with seven Greek museums and six famous goldsmiths who pioneered the export of Greek jewelry worldwide united their powers to showcase today's art jewelry, its roots in Greek culture and promote its image overseas. The exhibition attracted more than 3000 visitors, who all admired and got inspired by the young and more experienced art jewelers who presented their collections with passion proving that creativity and art cannot be defeated by the economic crisis. For more info and updates on the work of those contemporary jewelers you can visit 'A Jewel Made in Greece' Facebook page here. Below you will find photos of the exhibition and my 3 favorites designers (plus their Facebook pages), whose jewels are associated with a story or a person connected to my heart!

 RALLOU KATSARI

POLINA SAPOUNA-ELLIS

DOLLY BOUCOYANNIS

Photos by LYDIA KOUKOU

Polina Sapouna-Ellis Convertible Jewelry - The presentation

 There has always been a debate regarding fashion being a true art form. There are some fashion pieces or some trends that can tell you the way people used to express themselves in a specific period, but there are some other pieces that their beauty is timeless and you can definitely say that they are a decorative art. 

That was my first thought when I had a closer look at Polina Sapouna-Ellis' jewelry two weeks ago at Salon De Bricolage. When I had a chat with her I could easily realize why.

Polina is an archaeologist by training and her life among invaluable treasures of ancient Greek art, as well as her own need to create, led her to her true passion :jewelry design.

When I asked her about her work and inspiration she stated: 

“My approach to jewellery design stems from the architectural perspective. SYMMETRIA, the ancient Greek concept of counterbalance is fundamental. I believe in the power of geometry. As an archaeologist, ancient Greek shapes and motifs permeate my designs. The collections DORIAN, MEANDER or ANTITHESIS are triggered by the austere simplicity of ancient Greek norms. The simplicity of clean geometrical shapes inspires and intrigues me, while it lends minimalistic and often futuristic elements to many of my creations. I view each piece of jewellery as a sculpture, a small structure born out of a concept, urging me to define how it will invade space; should it be large or small, shiny, matte, timid, assertive.I want my jewellery to be dynamic and often transformable, convertible to accommodate one’s mood".

It was an amazing chat, a beautiful and inspiring night with gorgeous people admiring those "small" pieces of art! You can already find Polina's jewelry in museums and shops worldwide, but it's just the beginning! I am sure that her name and her creations carrying and depicting the Greek spirit and history will soon concur the world! 

ps: for more updates and inspiration follow her Facebook page and her instagram page: @polinasapounaellis2013

Photos by LYDIA KOUKOU