Shining DESPAIR
Maria Konschake
Belgium

Body-related object “41°54’08.5 »N 12°27’14.1 »E » from the series « Prägung », 2020
Fine silver, lead, 260x75x15mm
3D printed, casted

« Prägung » is part of the series « About Space and Identity » which I developed during my Master studies at PXL-MAD School of Arts (BE) in 2020. It is a visualization of European cultural memory within the field of jewellery and objects and deals with the rooms, areas, zones and districts of European history. For the visualisation, 5 points of view were developed. They show not only the plurality of the cultural memory, but also visualise the European struggle between unity and diversity. Furthermore, they illustrate the different facets of the history of the continent.

In this context, « Prägung » deals with the role of the church in shaping European history. The external material of the jewellery-like object created here, is fine silver and thus reflects (historically) the splendour and glory of the Roman Catholic Church. It is pure and fragile also referring to believe itself. However, the interior of the object is filled with cast lead – an apparent contradiction and contamination.
Not only is the object far too heavy to ever be worn, also the chain was made without a clasp and is too short to fit around the head.

The number of chainrings refers to the number of beads in a rosary.

More « Shining DESPAIR »

Shining Despair – Aya Iwata / Japan

The theme « Shining Despair » merges two opposing concepts: brilliance and despair.

Shining Despair – Selma Leal / Spain

« The desperation of corals shines before our eyes through their bleaching, »

Shining Despair – Henrike Altes – Germany

Out of the feeling of longing for warmth and the close relationship to a beloved person …

Shining Despair – Yichen Dong & Stacey Huang / China

Many spend their lives chasing ‘key moments,’ …

Shining Despair – Deimezi Xenia / Greece

Behind and in front of what is visible.

Shining Despair – Carmen Lopez / Spain

Spinning reflections on the title of the competition.

Shining Despair – Malene Kastalje / Denmark

I am preoccupied with the unpredictable and abnormal aspects of life.

Shining Despair – Minami Hiranuma / Japan

The motif of this work is my feelings when I picked up my grandmother’s bones.

Shining Despair – Lena Lindahl / Sweden

Half of the world’s coral reefs have vanished since 1950.

Shining Despair – Spam Glam / UK

Extreme changes in my life have caused me so much anguish …