Gems and Ladders

Gems and Ladders is a collection of jewellery designed by contemporary artists and crafted in a variety of materials. For six days the pieces will be on show in Berlin.

Meret Oppenheim, Sugar Ring, unlimited edition

For six days the Kunsthaus Lempertz KG in Berlin will host the exhibition “Gems and Ladders – Jewellery by Contemporary Artists” with jewels by Tobias Rehberger, Lawrence Weiner, Carol Bove, Claudia Comte, Liam Gillick, Thomas Hirschhorn, Martin Boyce and Meret Oppenheim.

Top: Meret Oppenheim, Sugar Ring, unlimited edition, silver gold plated, sugar, synthetic corundum. Above: left – Claudia Comte, CC, The Necklace, edition 16; mammoth bone, blackened silver, 22 × 25.5 cm. Right: Tobias Rehberger, Orange NO, Purple YES, Turquoise MAYBE, powder coated sterling silver, 18k gold, bronze. Courtesy Gems and Ladders, photo Nicolas Duc

Left: Liam Gillick, right – A Fragment of Future History, (edition 10) 18k black rhodium-plated gold; case Ø 37mm. Left – A Fragment of Future History (Gold), edition 99; bronze, sterling silver; case Ø 37mm. Right: Carol Bove, Untitled, edition 25; blackened aluminium, silver; 85 mm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders, photo Nicolas Duc

Tobias Rehberger, It’s very warm when the sun comes out (1-4), unique pieces; 18k white gold, resin enamel paint; length 91–95cm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Jens Ziehe

Meret Oppenheim, Fur Bracelet and ring, edition 15; 18k gold burnished, fur; 48×120×120mm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Jens Ziehe

Alighiero Boetti, 1986, edition of 200; stainless steel, leather; model case ø31mm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Hans-Jörg Walter

Fabian Marti, Silver Egg, Edition 100; sterling silver, epoxy resin; 100×67×6mm, length 84cm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Hans-Jörg Walter

Tobias Madison, Die Trotzwinkel, Edition 17; plastic (ABS), wood, velvet, liquid gum; each mask 24×15×7cm, Box 10×100×28cm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Hans-Jörg Walter

Lutz & Guggisberg, Alchemist, Astronomer, Juggler, Philosopher, Physicist, Little Pope, edition 66; 18k gold; 26.5×7.6×7.2 mm, length 530mm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Hans-Jörg Walter

Lawrence Weiner, Human Rights Adornment, Unlimited edition; anodized aluminium, stainless steel; each plate 4×4cm, length 70cm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Hans-Jörg Walter

Thomas Hirschhorn, Ideological Jewellery 1–3, unlimited edition; wood, leather; colours: red (ø10cm/90cm), dark brown (ø9.5cm/80cm), light brown (ø9cm/74cm). Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Hans-Jörg Walter

Jean Dubuffet, Le Boute en train (gold), edition 15; 18k gold; 52×28mm, length 73cm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Hans-Jörg Walter

Founded by Swiss art collector Thomas W. Bechtler and Alexander Pertot in 2014, the collection includes art jewellery designed by contemporary artists and crafted in a variety of materials. Today artists and designers are increasingly challenging divisions between creative disciplines like design, fashion and art. Gems and Ladders offers them many possibilities: not only can they collaborate with skilled jewellers and explore new materials and production methods; they are also invited to reconsider the formal legacy of jewellery and its interpretation.

Meret Oppenheim and Martin Boyce — **Left:** Meret Oppenheim, Snake Ear Cuff, edition 88; 18k gold, 2x 0.107ct Tsavorites; 78 × 44 × 12 mm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Nicolas Duc. **Right:** Martin Boyce, earrings – Tapping Branches And The Whispering Of Leaves, edition 30; 18k gold; length 51 mm, width 7 mm. Necklace – Imagine Sunlight On Closed Eyelids Through A Canopy Of Leaves (For S), edition 17; 18k gold; length 103 cm. Courtesy Gems and Ladders. Photo Nicolas Duc

11–16 September 2017
Gems and Ladders
Kunsthaus Lempertz KG
Poststrasse 22, Berlin

Gems and Ladders

Gems and Ladders is a collection of jewellery designed by contemporary artists and crafted in a variety of materials. For six days the pieces will be on show in Berlin.

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