international art medal exhibitions
Pocket monuments: Francisco LÓpez HernÁndez and medallic art in ‘Complutense’ - Madrid
(Monumentos de Bolsillo:
Francisco López Hernández y el Arte de la Medalla en la Complutense’)
Madrid, Centro Arte Complutense, September-December 2024
A wide exhibition of medals held in the Centro Arte Complutense, Madrid, Spain, displays the development of medal and medal teaching, from the first years of XXth century, at the former Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, to the present at its successor, the Facultad de Bellas Artes of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
The exhibition is focused on the work of Francisco López Hernández (1932-2017), sculptor and medallist belonging to ‘Madrid realists’, as well as teacher of medals from 1968 to 2002, so master for many generations of medallists, having played a central role both in the boost of Spanish medal in the fifties and sixties and in transferring medal teaching from the Escuela to the Facultad into the Complutense University. Conceived as homage to him, the exhibition was set up by a number of his pupils, nowadays themselves teachers of medals –now Little formats, edition and seriation in sculpture– with Consuelo de la Cuadra, María Jesús Romero and Paris Matía as curators.
The exhibition consists of three sections. The first illustrates the medal making processes in the old Escuela by examples as plasticines, waxes or dies made by well known turn-of-century medallists as Melesio Figueroa, Aquilino Cuervo or Bartolomé Maura. The second put the accent, as a central axis, on the medallic work of Francisco López Hernández, with creations as La noche (Night), Maribel en la ventana (Maribel at the window) and many others, together with some sculptures and bas-reliefs, evidencing his mastery and delicate sensitivity. A last section shows many exhibits from the Gabinete de Medallas Complutense, a medal cabinet promoted by López Hernández and developed subsequently to collect works of both outstanding artists and students linked to the medal art, now many of them regular participants in FIDEM exhibitions.
More than five hundred pieces illustrate widely the path of medal art and medal teaching from ‘medal engraving’ at the former Escuela to the current daring proposals and changes in approaches, techniques and procedures for an art in everlasting update. To contribute to its knowledge and diffusion is a further but no less important purpose on the exhibition.
The exhibition is open till December 8th, 2024 at Centro Arte Complutense, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 2, 28040 Madrid. A comprehensive catalogue will be soon available.
María Jesús Romero
Javier Gimeno
Photos:
1, A, B. [Exposition]
2. Eros and Venus, plasticine model, Melesio Figueroa, 1879
3. La noche (Night), Francisco López Hernández, 1963
4. Principio (Beginning), Paris Matía, 2010
5. Dando la talla (Measuring up), Arantxa Parrilla, 2012
Geer Steyn - Galerie Quintessens (Netherlands)
is exhibiting at Galerie Quintessens (Nieuwegracht 53 in Utrecht) between 29 September and 8 November
art medals by Nadia Rozeva - National Gallery of North Macedonia
On April 11, 2024 an exhibition of art medals and other works by Nadia Rozeva
opened up in Cifte Hammam Gallery, an historical building in the Old Bazaar of
Skopje, on the invitation of the National Art Gallery of North Macedonia. This is
the largest exhibition of Nadia Rozeva so far and first of its kind in the country. It
focuses the public's attention on the interesting genre of the art medal.
Rozeva
has included also three large silver-plated sand-cast brass reliefs of one of the architectural and cultural symbols of Skopje – the Old Post Office into her
ehibition with the idea to emphasize the need for its urgent resauration. The
building which is a great architecural exmple of the brutalist movement burnt 10
years ago and has since been exposed to water and sun. Rozeva is showing
over 90 medals and several paiting created in the period 2003-2024, marking the
20 th anniversary of her work in the field of the art medal.
The opening was attended by over 300 people among which the Vice Prime
Minister Slavica Gjorkovska, the State Secretary Filip Tosevski, many
ambassadors, artists, journalists and friends. The exhibition sparked great media
interest, focusing on the art medal and its place in the art scene. Rozeva will hold
several medal workshops in the National Art Gallery woking with over 50 signed
up students from different art departments in Skopje. Most of them had never
heard of art medals and were curious to explore the genre. The short
documentary “The Medal” is also been shown as part of the exhibition. The
exhibition will continue until May 7, 2024.
Progression – 30 years of activity of the group Anverso/Reverso (Portugal)
The Centro Internacional de Medalha Contemporânea held the exhibition PROGRESSION, which had previously been shown in New York and Kyoto. The exhibition commemorates the 30 years of activity of the group Anverso/Reverso, and includes artwork from both the members of this medal enthusiast collective, and 25 invited artists. The exhibition was shown between 21 October 2023 and 30 March 2024.
The 40th Japan Art Medal Exhibition
organized by JAMA, was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum from 1-8 November 2023.
The same familiar venue as last year made it easy to present a functional exhibition. The weather was favorable and many visitors came to the exhibition.
The total number of visitors over the seven days was 1332.
A total of 380 medals and reliefs were on display, including 32 in the public competition, 28 in the members' category, 26 reference pieces from the Japan Mint, as well as medals from previous JAMA editions, and medals from sponsors. And this time, the medals of collection of Kakitsubo and Yamada who participated at FIDEM Florence 2023 were also on special display.
For this year's 40th anniversary, a medal design category was created and an open call for entries was made.
Unfortunately, there were not many entries, but a total of 11 entries were received, all of which were displayed at the exhibition.
The prizewinners are as follows:
The Japan Art Medal Association Grand Prize
Cat and the Moon by Mr. Akihiro Nishizawa (Member)
The Mint Director's Prize:
Bouquet by Ms. Shoko Ejiri (Non-Member)
The Contemporary Art Medal Prize
Silver Whirlwind by Mr. Takeshi Ootsuka (Non-Member)
The Newcomer's Prize
Komorebi by Ms. Airi Iino (Non-Member)
In addition, the Grand Prix in the Design category was awarded to Mr.Takafumi Oonishi(Member) for his The flowers bloom
Japan Art Medal Association
Caminhos Medalhas e Moedas (Paths, Medals, and Coins)
The exhibition showcased the medallic and numismatic work of FIDEM members João Duarte, José João Brito and Vítor Santos. It was held at Centro Cultural Casapiano, in Lisbon, from September 28 to November 17, 2023.