MINERALS BRNO
18.-19.11. 2023

This November, the visitors to the exhibition attending the supporting exhibition will have a unique opportunity to admire the work of Karel Votipka - accomplished precious stone jewellery designer.

Karel Votipka (1964) is a notable Czech jewellery designer. For many people, his name is a synonym for immense invention, avant-garde ideas, perfect craftsmanship and careful choice of precious stones. Originally, he trained to become a toolmaker, then he studied goldsmithery at the technical college in Turnov. He made his first jewels with the care and approach of a tradesperson- toolmaker- influenced by the work of Western European jewellery makers.

As a trained toolmaker, Karel Votipka has a sense of metal. However, his creative domain is work with metal in combination with natural stones, be it manually cut stones or stones in natural crystalline condition. In his work, he prefers Czech stones and he finds himself most of the processed stones. When he uses Czech stones he leaves, armed with a hammer, in search of suitable minerals, which he then cuts and sets himself. For his original designs he has discovered the possibility of combining geometrical shapes with organic mineral curves. He takes advantage of the optical characteristics of the minerals – effects based on refraction and reflection of light and applies the movement of solids – natural stones along rail-type or spiral guides and then he adds the jewel movement through its holder and while reflecting the surrounding space. Karel Votipka makes modern jewellery for everyday wear always in a unique original design (there are no two identical jewels made in his studio). This is one of the reasons why his jewels have won such renown in the country as well as abroad in the international competition. Karel’s breakthrough on the international design scene was the New York exhibition at the Helen Drutt’s gallery in 1999. His collection was seen by Madeleine K. Albright and she bought one of his brooches. His work has something to offer to the world, which is shown by a short overview of his individual exhibitions and his participation in dozens of group presentations. He held exhibitions at galleries in Sweden, Estonia, Germany, Hawaii, Belgium, Finland, Holland, New York and in South Africa. Individual exhibitions of his jewels took place in Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Chile, South Korea, Lithuania, Denmark, and, naturally, in several cities of the Czech Republic – Prague, České Budějovice, Liberec. The work by Karel Votipka can be found in many galleries and private collections. He has managed to revive for the Czech and international admirers the awareness of the Czech Republic as a country of precious stones and of the beauty of Czech lands and craftsmanship of its people.

  Karel Votipka can accentuate the beauty of stones by unusual cuts with a flair for the singular charm of each and every stone. His stones set in jewels are complemented with gold, titanium or surgical steel. For many years, his favourite type of jewel has been a ring, recently he has dedicated himself to designing brooches embellished with rarely used ore minerals from Czech localities. He prefers copper ores. In his jewels he always combines several minerals containing copper. His jewels are recognisable at first sight: the harmony of stone and metal turns them into solitary artworks featuring ergonomy and wearability. Jewelers designed by Karel Votipka are not just decorations – when you put them aside, they become original decorations.

Currently, Karel Votipka’s jewellery is on display at the museum in Jílová u Prahy – as part of the Decorative Stones exhibition. This exhibition will last until March 2015.

For the next November exhibition we plan to introduce other leading design jewellery makers.