To mark the occasion of the 21st Silver Triennial, DIVA is hosting an evening with international makers who explore the boundaries between contemporary jewellery and silver objects. During this DIVA talk, three artists will delve into their work and artistic practices. Each has a background in contemporary jewellery, with fascinating ventures into larger silver objects that balance between functional design and autonomous artwork.
Through presentations, we gain deeper insight into the makers and their creations. A follow-up panel discussion will explore the role of silver in contemporary artistic discourse. How do jewellery-making techniques influence larger-scale objects? How do new forms, meanings, and uses emerge?
Programme:
- Yegyu Shin
- Iris Hummer
- Sarah Cossham
- Panel discussion moderated by Tom Iriks
- Closing reception
Practical information:
- Language: English
- Admission: Free
- Location: Emerald Room
About the speakers
Yegyu Shin - Munich
Born in 1991, Yegyu Shin is a young South Korean artist currently studying jewellery design at the renowned Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. His work is rooted in personal memories and intimate stories, translated into refined silver objects such as spoons and tableware. By reinterpreting traditional forms and infusing them with emotional resonance, he creates pieces that are both familiar and poetic. His Silver Triennial piece Toy of Time explores transience and the traces left by time. Shin’s practice exemplifies how young designers subtly blur the line between utilitarian objects and art.
Iris Hummer - Vienna
Iris Hummer (b. 1983) is an Austrian maker with a background in jewellery and fine art. She studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, Ar.Co in Lisbon, and completed her master’s at Hochschule Trier in Idar-Oberstein. Her practice centres on movement, transformation, and interaction. Her objects function as stylised instruments that invite reflection on the body, memory, and the social significance of jewellery. Hummer’s work balances conceptual rigour with sensory experience. It has been exhibited internationally, from Portugal to China. In 2023, she was awarded second prize at the Legnica Jewellery Festival and is praised for her playful and philosophical approach to jewellery.
Sarah Cossham - Cologne
With over twenty years of experience as a goldsmith and designer, Sarah Cossham (b. 1979) is known for her radical reinvention of classical gold and silversmithing. Her work focuses on materiality, imperfection, and sustainability. She works with repurposed gemstones and old gold, which she revives through innovative techniques. In her latest collection, gemstones are made to interact directly with molten gold—an unpredictable process that produces unique, organic forms. Cossham’s work has received international acclaim. She won the prestigious Ebbe Weiss-Weingart Silver Prize in 2019 and was nominated for the Danner Prize in 2023.
About the Silver Triennial
The Silver Triennial is an international competition and travelling exhibition that showcases the latest developments in silversmithing every three years. The selected works demonstrate creativity, technical virtuosity, and conceptual innovation in the field. With this DIVA talk, DIVA adds an extra layer to the exhibition by inviting selected makers to share their perspectives.