mitWirkung – Partizipation durch Gestaltung

mitWirkung – Eröffnung

What does it mean to inherit something — and what can we make of it? The exhibition "mitWirkung – Participation through Design" brings together 40 unique jewelry pieces, objects, and accessories created by students of the State Academy of Design Hanau, one of Germany’s most renowned institutions for the intangible cultural heritage of gold- and silversmithing.

The works are based on a special gift: gemstones and materials from the estate of the celebrated jewelry artist Ebbe Weiss-Weingart, passed on by her heir Ulrike Heberling-Weingart. The students accepted this inheritance — and transformed it.

Over the course of several months, the materials were not only skillfully processed, but reinterpreted and translated into original, contemporary designs. Each piece tells its own story and reflects personal responses to themes such as heritage, responsibility, participation, and the future.

The exhibition invites visitors to explore these powerful interpretations — and to experience how cultural heritage can be creatively reimagined and actively shaped by a new generation.

A photo series by artist Kathrin Berger accompanies the exhibition, documenting the full process: from the symbolic transfer of materials to the making of the pieces and their presentation.

The show is part in cooperation with the KulturErben initiative, which sees the Staatliche Zeichenakademie Hanau open its doors during World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, inviting the public into dialogue about heritage, craftsmanship, and creative legacy.

Opening: March 26, 2026, 19:00 with get together afterwards.

More informationen: www.goldschmiedehaus.com, mitWirkung www.zeichenakademie.de

Hanau Art Academy, German Goldsmiths' House Hanau