Touching Base with Benedict Haener
Switzerland’s Benedict Haener is a rising star. Shortly after his goldsmith’s apprenticeship, he took first place within the expertise class of the Swiss Vocational Championships. The yr after graduating from the XS-SCHMUCK program at Lucerne College of Utilized Sciences, he was awarded a 2024 Talente — Masters of the Future prize for his jewellery. And this month he gained the 2026 Younger Artist Award, supported by Karen and Michael Rotenberg.
This prize, given each two years, acknowledges promise, innovation, and individuality within the work of an rising jewellery artist aged 35 and youthful. Via the award, AJF helps new and thrilling work that may encourage future developments within the discipline.
Artwork Jewellery Discussion board: Congratulations on profitable the Younger Artist Award competitors—what an accomplishment! How did you change into focused on jewellery? And what conjures up your work?
Benedict Haener: Whilst a baby, I loved crafting small objects by hand. Pushed by this curiosity, I started an apprenticeship as a goldsmith. Throughout my bachelor’s research in “XS Jewellery”—beneath the steerage of Christoph Zellweger—I found my ardour for creator jewellery.
What does profitable this competitors imply for you? Will it affect you going ahead?
Benedict Haener: It’s a nice honor for me to win this award. I hope that this may make my work extra seen. Nonetheless, my plan has at all times been to proceed growing my work as a jewellery artist.
Inform us in regards to the work you utilized with.
Benedict Haener: My works are supposed to captivate viewers with their technical finesse, playful design, and worsening associations. The items are wearable or act as a press release when exhibited. Thematically, I resist widespread conventions within the jewellery market with irony and wit. Values are questioned and new values are generated in stunning processes.
Inform us extra about one of many items in your utility.
Benedict Haener: The items within the First Impression assortment got here into being fairly by probability. Whereas crushing diamonds for the Sugar Free Apple Necklace, I positioned the stones between two steel sheets and pounded them with a hammer. Once I opened the sheets, I noticed that the diamonds had left good impressions within the steel—and the way fantastically they sparkled. Constructing upon this discovery, and thru a repeatedly evolving course of, I developed the First Impression assortment.
What excites you in regards to the discipline of artwork jewellery?
Benedict Haener: Within the realm of artist jewellery, it’s permissible—certainly, even fascinating—for the works to be crafted solely by hand, from begin to end. This offers me immense flexibility and permits very fast progress in growing new processes and strategies.
The place do you assume the sector goes? What new and thrilling developments do you see in artwork jewellery?
Benedict Haener: The rising costs for valuable metals are making conventional jewellery too costly for an rising variety of folks. This presents a possibility for jewellery artists to supply another by way of modern ideas.
Do you will have any frustrations with the sector?
Benedict Haener: I imagine that the work of most artists is priced too low. Normally, solely the labor and materials prices are charged; all the creative course of behind the work is actually given away without spending a dime. This has the benefit of creating the work reasonably priced for a wider vary of shoppers, however the drawback is that many jewellery artists can’t make a residing from it.
If you happen to might write a grasp plan in your apply, the place would you wish to be 5 years from now?
Benedict Haener: I can’t say—5 years in the past, I used to be nonetheless originally of my research, and now I’ve been self-employed as a jewellery artist for 2 and a half years—and I’m nonetheless making a residing! I hope it continues this fashion!
Congratulations once more! Thanks for taking the time to inform us about your apply.
