The main event of International Biennial of Amber in Frombork, which was organized for the first time, was an open artistic competition titled “Amber and astronomy”.
Its aim is to promote amber as a natural material of Polish coast and a historical capital city of Warmia – Frombork, where Nicolaus Copernicus lived – as a place with traditions connected with amber and astronomy.
More than 60 works was sent for the competition. The composition of the jury debating on 30th June was the following: Giedymin Jablonski, the chairman – an artist; Elzbieta Mierzwinska – Senior Custodian of Amber Collection in Castle Museum in Malbork; Elzbieta Topolnicka-Niemcewicz – a president of the Nicolaus Copernicus Foundation in Frombork; Marek Nowaczyk – an artist; Robert Pytlos – a coordinator for amber. To exhibit and publish in a catalogue the jury admitted 30 works by 17 authors (among others from Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, England and Russia). The jury awarded Grand Prix and three joint third prizes.
Grand Prix was awarded to Philip Sajet (the Netherlands) for Tube Ring, “for a synthetic, symbolic reference to sky observation by means of an archetypal form of tube, an innovative treating of amber and a perfect realization”. The work dates back to 2004.
The joint third prizes were awarded to:
- Elzbieta Held (Poland) for “an interesting graphic interpretation of the heliocentric model”;
- Wojciech Mokwinski (Poland) for “an original sketch of a planetary system with rich connotations achieved thanks to the use of various materials put together with amber in a form of nuggets – drops and perfectly beveled geometric forms”;
- Silvia Walz (Spain) for “a bold use of colour and interesting forms, an innovative use of amber put together with other materials and clear respect for this stone”.
While judging the works the jury took into account artistic values, a creative use of amber, an interpretation of a subject of the competition and a quality of workmanship. The jury also expressed satisfaction with a result of the competition, at the same time emphasizing a need and usefulness of the continuation of the project.
The after-competition exhibition, which is possible to see in Nicolaus Copernicus Planetarium in Frombork, will last until 26th August and for this day the organizers have announced a festive ending of the exhibition together with giving printed after-competition catalogues.
Elzbieta Topolnicka-Niemcewicz, the president of the Nicolaus Copernicus Foundation in Frombork, expressed her satisfaction with the amount and level of the works sent for the competition. She admitted being positively surprised by some interpretations of the subject of the competition and she assured that she will strive to continue the biennial next year – when organized for the second time it will surely have a wider scope.
The organizers of the biennial are the offices of the district authorities in Braniewo, Olsztyn and Lidzbark Warminski, affiliated around “Dom Warminski” (“House of Warmia” – an organization created to promote tourist and historical values of Warmia, unfortunately often mistaken with Masuria), the Centre of Culture in Braniewo, the Nicolaus Copernicus Foundation in Frombork, the Municipal Council in Frombork and Nicolaus Copernicus Museum in Frombork.
Portal on Amber amber.com.pl held a trade media patronage over this event.
Photos: organizers
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1st International amber Biennial
