This year the prestigious Herbert Hofmann Preis 2012 was awarded to Alexander Blank. His collection of necklaces Memento Juniori was not only praised for their superb craftmanship – each piece is sculpted by hand – but also for the original way in which the artist made a melancholic tribute to the years of one’s youth.

Jewellery often has a symbolic meaning, for the wearer him/herself or for the images that are depicted. For example; skulls are reminiscent of the Roman phrase Memento Mori (remember you must die). Blank decided to pay hommage to his childhood days, during which the characters from The Looney Tunes were his heroes. Blanks reinterpreted the iconic figures by cutting their imaginary skulls.

Alexander Blank is represented by Galerie Rob Koudijs in Amsterdam.