What makes something beautiful - is it the design or the materials used to make it? This new exhibition created by the Federal Environment Agency together with the Grassi Museum of Applied Arts aims to take a closer look at jewellery design and its component pieces.

WERT / Voll (Value / Full) breaks away from traditional jewellery design by showcasing pieces made from more sustainable and newer materials.

See jewellery design through a new lens

Running from October 15 to November 3 at the Grassi Messe Museum in Leipzig, this exhibit showcases jewellery made from plastic waste, electronic rubbish, recycled minerals and even with a 3D printer. Handcrafted by 20 international and national artists, the items on display showcase the ecological and socio-economic consequences of the constant mining for raw materials by showing what is possible with other materials. 

Both young and established artists, such as Christoph Ziegler, Daniel von Weinberger and Peter Vermandere, used special design techniques, such as upcycling, recycling and more, to create new pieces of jewellery which challenge the current throwaway society. At the same time, the exhibition also aims to set new standards in jewellery design while raising questions about the conditions in which gold, silver and other precious metals are made. 

What makes jewellery valuable?

Next to the WERT/Voll exhibition, which will also be shown in Dessau, a two-day jewellery making workshop entitled ‘Objects of Desire - Jewellery as an Ecological Message’ will also take place. This workshop offers participants the chance to design their own item from waste or simple household materials. 

Visiting WERT/Voll

Are you keen on learning more about sustainable jewellery design? Or trying your hand at making something beautiful from waste?

For more details and to reserve your tickets to the exhibition, head over to the official WERT/Voll website. In order to fully encompass the sustainable approach of the exhibition, we recommend travelling by public transportation or bicycle.