Jewelry Biennial elects “The Women of Democracy” with an Award that combines Jewelry Art with Female Freedom

Jewellery pieces that honour the editor Snu Abecassis, the writer Maria Manuel Viana, and the writer and journalist Maria Antónia Fiadeiro were awarded by the hands of jewellery artists Maria Benedita, Isa Duarte Ribeiro, and Áurea Praga, respectively.

Taking place from April to the end of September 2024 and integrated into the official program of the celebrations of the 50 Years of April 25, the 2nd International Biennial of Contemporary Jewelry in Lisbon celebrates the values of democracy with the artistic manifestation of jewellery art. With the theme “Political Jewelry. Jewelry of Power” and the title Dawn, this edition of the Biennial addresses the profound dialogue of the past, present, and future between jewellery and power, which are closely linked.

The Museum of the Royal Treasure was one of the Biennial’s routes, where its unique collection of many of the former assets of the old Portuguese Royal House merges with contemporary jewellery. On the occasion of the exhibition “Jewels for Democracy,” about 60 jewellery artists were challenged to create a piece in honour of women who played a significant role in the transition to democracy or particularly suffered under the dictatorship.

Adélio Gomes, Céline Abecassis-Moedas, Joana Vasconcelos, journalist Mafalda Anjos, and Mónica Balsemão were the members of the Jury of the Women of Democracy Award who evaluated over 60 pieces that honoured women who stood out in politics, activism, culture, journalism, education, and medicine, as well as anonymous women whose lives are also inscribed in the history of Portuguese and global democracy.

The three best pieces chosen by this recognized jury were “Snu,” by Maria Benedita in homage to the editor Snu Abecassis, “Mais outra. mais uma. outra. uma” by Isa Duarte Ribeiro which pays homage to writer Maria Manuel Viana, and “The eyes that see things are” by Áurea Praga, honouring writer and journalist Maria Antónia Fiadeiro. The aesthetic appeal of each piece, its connection to the values represented by the honoured woman, and the overall quality of the work dictated the winning jewels, whose interpretations made an ode to all the women featured in the exhibition “Jewels for Democracy.”

The 2nd Biennial has the institutional support of the Ministry of Culture, through the General Directorate of Arts and the Commission for the Commemorations of the 50 years of April 25, also having as its main partner MUDE/Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, as well as the support of the Lisbon Tourism Association. The Biennial, through the Exhibition “Dawn,” is entering its last week, being open until September 22 with about 200 jewels that celebrate FREEDOM with artists from over 30 nationalities.

Founded in 2004 and celebrating 20 years of activity, PIN – Portuguese Association of Contemporary Jewelry was created to bring together the multiple talents, agents, academics, and people who have dedicated their lives to jewellery, represent the sector, developing exchanges, and launching new platforms for a discipline that increasingly calls for encounters with other arts. Today, as a cultural association, PIN aims to promote contemporary jewellery, activating on a collective basis the exchange of information and experiences, conducting theoretical and practical projects in the field of the arts, with a special focus on jewellery, creating the most diverse cultural initiatives, both national and international.

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