Exhibitions » Exhibition Archive » Hirschfeld Gallery Archive » Karl Fritsch: Scenes from the Munich Diamond Disaster
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Karl Fritsch, Scenes from the Munich Diamond Disaster, installation view, 2010. Photo: Andrew Beck.
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Karl Fritsch, ring, 2010. Oxidised gold, synthetic spinell. Image courtesy of the artist.
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Karl Fritsch, ring, 2008. Silver and glass. Image courtesy of the artist.
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Karl Fritsch, Scenes from the Munich Diamond Disaster, installation view, 2010. Photo: Andrew Beck.
Karl Fritsch: Scenes from the Munich Diamond Disaster
26 November 2010 - 16 January 2011 in the Hirschfeld Gallery
An installation by German jeweller Karl Fritsch, where we encounter the exquisite rings in the midst of a ‘scene’ created by the artist. Fritsch is widely known for his brilliantly irreverent handling of precious materials; here his craftsmanship is evident both in the minute detail of the jewellery, and in the curious spatial arrangement of the exhibition and its furniture. This is not how you expect to see precious objects displayed; it’s like meeting jewellery afterhours, off-duty.
Karl likes to treat his jewellery like plasticine. His pieces remain unfinished until they are worn. He endeavours to expand the idea of what jewellery might be, throwing off kilter conventional ideas about value, wearablity, and what is beautiful. Breaking most of the rules of goldsmithing—marrying precious with cheap, making new pieces from discarded jewellery, gluing uncut gemstones together, and fusing kitchen appliances with exquisite rings—Fritsch’s work declares war on the commonplace.
This exhibition shows an extraordinary artist at work on both micro and macroscopic levels: in the minute rings, and with the room at large. These are gems that refuse to be just beautiful; they jostle with real life and what it means to be precious, to be worn and to be loved. They create a scene, and revel in it.
Karl Fritsch also has work on display at Hamish McKay Gallery from 13 November – 9 December 2010.
Public Programmes
Saturday 27 November 2pm
Abby Cunnane and Karl Fritsch in conversation.
Media Release
The beautiful and cataclysmic rings of Karl Fritsch
Further Reading
Karl Fritsch: Scenes from the Munich Diamond Disaster Works List