21st Silver Triennial

The 21st Silver Triennial at DIVA: an international perspective on contemporary silver

From 4 July, DIVA presents the 67 selected works from the prestigious 21st Silver Triennial. This international competition and travelling exhibition, organised by the German Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst and the Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus Hanau, brings together the best of contemporary silversmithing every three years.

New forms, techniques and ideas

From jugs to conceptual art objects, the Silver Triennial offers a surprisingly diverse overview of what is happening today in silversmithing around the world. The selected pieces stand out for their creativity, craftsmanship and artistic innovation. Both established artists and emerging talents are given a platform.

For this edition, no fewer than 195 silversmiths, designers and artists submitted their work. An international jury selected 67 pieces by 59 participants from 16 countries. The DIVA museum is on its eighth time as a host on the international tour.

Outstanding winners

A striking feature of this edition is the strong presence of Asian makers: six out of eight prizes were awarded to silversmiths from China and South Korea. The influence of renowned institutions such as Kookmin University (Seoul), Birmingham School of Jewellery and the Akademie der Bildenden Künste (Munich) is clearly visible. From Belgium, works were selected by alumni of Sint-Lucas and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

 Prize winners – 21st Silver Triennial

• Jug Goryeo 2, Yeunhee Ryu (*1962), 2023 – 1st Prize, Main Competition
• Teapot with handle in nickel, Yong-Il Jeon (*1956), 2024 – 2nd Prize, Main Competition
• The flexible vessel 2372, Jieun Park (*1980), 2024 – 3rd Prize, Main Competition
• Toy of Time I, Yegyu Shin (*1991), 2024 – 1st Prize, Student Competition
• Shimmering, Siqiu Zhang (*1996), 2024 – 2nd Prize, Student Competition
• Bowl Conceal and Reveal, Jae Hui Jeong (*1992), 2024 – 3rd Prize, Student Competition
• Jug, Carl Kankowsky (*1998), 2024 – 4th Prize, Student Competition
• Jug Angst, Rebecca Bierbrodt (*2000), 2023 – 5th Prize, Student Competition

Belgian selections

• Shiny Cloud, David Huycke (*1967), 2024
• Re-forging consumption, Helena Schepens (*1981), 2024

Other highlights

• Anecdote Vase, Sang Hoon Kim (*1986), 2024
• Routine Vase, Sang Hoon Kim (*1986), 2024
• Camera Obscura, Iris Hummer (*1983), 2024

DIVA & contemporary silver

The DIVA museum is committed to showcasing contemporary silverwork. International competitions such as the Silver Triennial offer an excellent opportunity to discover and acquire inspiring new pieces. In 2022, DIVA acquired Undatio, submitted by Antwerp-based silversmith Helena Schepens for the 20th edition. This poetic work – in which the empty, silent space is just as essential as the silver – will be highlighted during the exhibition.

Activities at DIVA

To accompany the Silver Triennial, DIVA is organising a series of in-depth activities. These include talks, masterclasses and encounters with silversmiths. You can find the full programme at the bottom of this page.