BERLIN.- An exhibition showcasing the breadth and ingenuity of contemporary crafts and design from Berlin and Paris has opened at the Kunstgewerbemuseum – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Titled "The Art of Making 2025: Crafts and Design from Paris and Berlin," the exhibition, which runs from April 4 to June 1, 2025, brings together over 70 works that highlight the vitality of handwerkliches Know-how and creative expression in both European capitals.

Presented as part of the European Days of Arts and Crafts (ETAK), the exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Berlin Chamber of Crafts, the Chambre de Métiers et de l’Artisanat Île de France, and the Kunstgewerbemuseum. It serves as a survey of contemporary crafts in Berlin and Paris, featuring a diverse range of objects from intricate jewelry and artfully crafted ceramics to unique furniture. The selection aims to demonstrate that modern craftsmanship extends far beyond traditional approaches, embracing innovation and pushing material boundaries.

The exhibition is rooted in a long-standing partnership between the Berlin and Paris Chambers of Crafts, established in 1980, which aims to strengthen Franco-German friendship and a shared European identity. This annual showcase serves as a platform to convey and promote valuable craft knowledge in its many forms, stimulate new ideas, and foster mutual inspiration and understanding between the two cities' creative communities.

The works featured in the exhibition were selected through different processes in each city. In Paris, 39 objects spanning jewelry, fashion, and sculpture were curated. For the Berlin representation, a competition titled "Crafts & Design 2024 - State Prize for Crafts Berlin" was held between July 1 and September 30, 2024, inviting craftspeople from all sectors in Berlin to participate. An expert jury selected 28 works from these submissions to be included in the exhibition. The competition received support from Berliner Volksbank, which provided a total of 15,000 euros in prize money. Joe Chialo, Berlin's Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion, served as the patron for the competition.

The winner of the main State Prize for Crafts Berlin was Anastasiya Koshcheeva, recognized for an innovative chair crafted from birch bark. Her three-dimensionally woven design was noted for pushing the material's limits while combining traditional techniques. Second place was awarded to Katharina Lienhard for jewelry made from textile and silver, and to Gabriele Hinze, who also designs brooches. Third place was shared by Bernhard Deutz for a sound wheel and Anna Badur for a Gaiwan tea set made from bisque porcelain. The promotional prize, aimed at emerging talents, was awarded to Martina Dimitrova and Marc Roman Page.

Officials from the organizing institutions and the city of Berlin shared their perspectives on the exhibition and the significance of the collaboration.

Carola Zarth, President of the Berlin Chamber of Crafts, commented on the diverse nature of the field. "Hardly any other professional field is as multifaceted as crafts," she stated. "The exhibition impressively demonstrates that craftsmanship stands not only for robustness but also for refinement and aesthetics, which are brought to life through masterful skill. The partnership between the Paris and Berlin Chambers of Crafts, which has existed for over 45 years, shows how valuable cultural exchange is for crafts."

Joe Chialo, Berlin's Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion, expressed his pleasure in seeing the creative contributions from both cities. "I am very pleased to see how passionately and with how much talent the Berlin and Parisian craftspeople, designers, are creatively advancing their art forms," Chialo said. He added his pleasure that "The Art of Making" exhibition was once again opening the European Days of Arts and Crafts in Berlin, celebrating the European spirit in the capital. He extended his congratulations to the winners of the State Prize and the Promotional Prize.

Dr. Sibylle Hoiman, Director of the Kunstgewerbemuseum, highlighted the combination of techniques visible in the works. "I am extremely pleased that this year, together with the Chambers of Crafts of Berlin and Paris, we can show the outstanding works of contemporary craftsmanship from both countries at the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin," said Dr. Hoiman. "The exhibited works impressively show how traditional techniques are conceived and implemented together with modern technologies. In my opinion, this is precisely where the future potential of creative craftsmanship lies."

Francis Bussière, President of the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Paris, spoke on the occasion of the centenary of the official founding of the Chambers of Crafts. "In the year of the centenary of the official founding of the Chambers of Crafts, the Chambers of Crafts of Paris and Berlin celebrate their cooperation in favor of artistic and creative crafts with the exhibition 'The Art of Making 2025: Crafts & Design from Paris & Berlin'," Bussière commented. He described the exhibition as outstanding, illustrating the richness and diversity of craftsmanship know-how in both capitals and underlining the importance of preserving this top-level craftsmanship.

The exhibition provides a platform for visitors to engage with contemporary craft practices and witness the ongoing dialogue and exchange between the vibrant creative communities of Berlin and Paris.