The Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery is a biennial international award that brings focus to excellence in contemporary jewellery design in Australia and around the world.
Gallery Funaki has been recognised as a driving force in the promotion of contemporary jewellery in Australia for over 20 years. This year, 35 artists have been shortlisted from an international field of 413 entries from 48 countries. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 23 August 2016.
Melbourne is recognised as a major creative hub for contemporary jewellery, and the Mari Funaki Award cements its reputation the world over, as it brings the best international jewellery to Australia to show alongside some of our most talented local makers.
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The award, established in 2014, celebrates the life and achievements of Japanese/Australian artist and gallery founder Mari Funaki. Current gallery Director Katie Scott says,
‘Mari Funaki was passionate about Australian contemporary jewellery being shown at the same high level as European jewellery: we seek to keep Mari’s name and her philosophy alive with this biennial award. This gives Australian makers a rare opportunity to show their works among a high profile group of celebrated international artists, fostering relationships between them and their peers worldwide.’
The Award offers prizes in two categories: an $8000 acquisitive prize awarded to an established artist, and a $2000 cash prize awarded to an emerging artist. The winning piece by an established maker will enter the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria (subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees).
The judges for the 2016 Award are: Simone LeAmon, Catherine Truman and Kate Rhodes.
Each piece is selected on the basis of their unique and highly skilled approach: their work is known for its conceptual strength, technical rigour and refined sensibility.
The Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery exhibition runs from Tuesday 23 August until Saturday 24 September, 2016.
Need to know:
- Dates: Tuesday 23 August – Saturday 24 September, 2016
- Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10.30am – 5.30pm Saturday 12pm – 4pm
- Address: Gallery Funaki, 4 Crossley Street, Melbourne
- Free Entry
Get Social:
- Gallery Funaki website
- #GalleryFunaki
- @galleryfunaki
Pictured at top: Genevieve Howard (Ireland), The Song of the Chanter (necklace), 2016, laser cut Japanese linen paper, elastic
The Garb Wire 