Fourth edition of Loewe Foundation’s Craft Prize will be 100% digital, opening on May 25

By

Diana León Banda

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Apr 21, 2021

The fourth edition of the Loewe Foundation’s Craft Prize, whose 2020 edition was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, is now going ahead as an exclusively digital exhibition that is set to open on May 25, as the Loewe Foundation and the Paris Museum of Decorative Arts announced in a press release on Tuesday.
 

“The exhibition will include artworks by 30 finalists who represent contemporary craftsmanship from around the world, coming from 6 continents and 18 different countries, and making up the most global list of finalists since the award was launched in 2016,” said the joint statement.
 
The artworks on show are made out of a variety of sources, from textiles to ceramic, porcelain, wood, copper, resin, metal, paper, glass and lacquer, exemplifying how the various artists have experimented with materials and demonstrating their mastery of traditional techniques.

Several of the finalists have used found and recycled materials for their work, highlighting their concern for sustainability and environmental protection.

The winner of the Craft Prize’s fourth edition will be announced on May 25 on Loewe’s website and social media channels, and will be awarded the sum of €50,000. The winner will be picked by a jury composed of 12 personalities from the world of architecture, fashion, design and art, among them Olivier Gabet, director of the Paris Museum of Decorative Arts, and Genta Ishizuka, winner of the Loewe Foundation’s Craft Prize 2019.

Six continents represented

The 30 finalists include artisans from six different continents, coming from countries as diverse as the USA, Iran, Spain, Kenya, Chile, China and many others.

Viewers will be able to virtually tour the exhibition, whose backdrop is the Grand Hall of the Paris Museum of Decorative Arts, thanks to 3D technology. The finalists’ artworks will be displayed using cutting-edge digital tools, with features such as 3D modelling, 360º high definition and augmented reality.