Contemporary Goldsmith, Object and Jewellery Artist/Designer
Bernhard Stimpfl-Abele is a contemporary goldsmith, object and jewellery artist/designer, borne 1983 in Linz, Austria. After graduating as a goldsmith at the HTL Steyr in 2003, he permanently studied and worked within the field of contemporary jewellery and objects in Italy, Spain and Sweden, where in 2010, he graduated with a master degree in jewellery and objects at the Konstfack university of Stockholm in 2010. 2012, he founded the gallery cafe´ “Parallell“ Stockholm, Sweden. Between 2013 and 2014, Stimpfl-Abele was teaching goldsmithing, object art and design at the design studio by Azza Fahmy, Cairo, Egypt, which as well he helped to build up during that time. The work of Stimpfl-Abele has been shown within exhibitions and shows at numerous countries and exhibitions around the world.
The artist created his base in Freudenthal near the Austrian Attersee at the end of 2024 – a place closely linked to his origins, the history of the former Freudenthal glass factory and the cultural heritage of the Stimpfl-Abele family.
Education:
2015/16
Degree in forest warden, (Forstwart und Forstfacharbeiter)
Forest school, Waidhofen an der Ybbs
2010
Received Master of fine arts in crafts – contemporary jewellery and objects
Konstfack University Stockholm, Sweden
2008-10
M.A. Program under Ruudt Peters and Karen Pontoppidan
Konstfack University Stockholm, Sweden
2007-08
Own working period
Barcelona, Spain
2006-07
Tutorial year with Peter Bauhuis
working in the own workshop, Barcelona, Spain
2004-06
Alchimia School of Contemporary Jewellery
Specialization course with Prof. Manuel Vilhena
Specialization course with Prof. Manfred Bischoff
Florence, Italy
2004-07/08
Summer Academie Salzburg with Johanna Dahm and Patrick Muff
Salzburg, Austria
2004
2 month practise with Sven Boltenstern
Vienna, Austria
2002
1 month practise with Franz-Joseph Baischer
Mondsee, Austria
1999-03
HTL Steyr – Goldsmith and Metal Design
Steyr, Austria
Curriculum Vitae
Current
Artist and Designer at the own company Abele Jewellery & Objects
Freudenthal, Austria
2021
Co founder, main artist and main designer
Stilami Noble Jewellery, Salzburg, Austria
2017
Founder of the own company Abele Jewellery & Objects
Austria
2014/15
Workingprozess, teaching and living
Cairo, Egypt
2013/14
Permanently living and working in Cairo as an art and design teacher at the first jewellery school in the middle east, the design studio by Azza Fahmy
Cairo, Egypt
2012
Founder of the gallery café workspace Parallell
Stockholm, Sweden
2010
Founder of the company abele contemporary jewellery
Stockholm, Sweden
Bracelets, Rings and brooches
Custom Jewellery
Object Art and Jewellery
Organic Metal
My work “Organic Metal” is about the old, the new and the ambivalence in between. I want to preserve, or possibly conserve, a snapshot of the aging process and a specific moment in the life/death of organic materials like mostly bread or bread dough. These organic materials are also the base of my jewellery pieces. I see similarities between the way we humans grow up and develop. I let my work experience different elements. It almost looks like evolution in itself by following the already finished process from a distance. It even can produce a short glimps into the future.
Object Art
Fruit Explosions
Sculptures
Ghost Forms
When the old is the new at the same time:
In his new work, contemporary jewellery and object artist Bernhard Stimpfl-Abele discovers „the new“ as a result of transformative processes of old forms and traditions. The artist works with drawings of oldglass makers and their products, of the old, historic glass factory Freudenthal which represents „the old“ but at the same time become „the new“ in its mirrored perspective.
The sculpture´s mirrored stainless steel surfaces reflect the nature arround them, melting into theenvironement and distorting ist reflection. Mirrored images of three dimensional objects appear magic, allive and in a completely new light. A mirrored image depicts „the new“ from two different perspectives: In one way, as a simple copy; or in another way, as a form of a mirrored image which shows anotherpoint of view. The artist sees art not in relation to the old, the new, or the timeless, but much more aboutbeing alive. „Old“ and „new“ are not opposites, they belong together. They draw a timeline without a judgment of quality. Therefore, a reflection is a perspective of “the new“ and a form of art itself. Kollaboration with Alexander Schreilechner.
Object Art
Bread Investigation
Object Art and Jewellery
Transformations
„The Rebirth Of The Tool“ – The tool is more complex in its nature and identity than most would assume.
Bernhard Stimpfl-Abele´s work shows the transformation of traditional glass making tools when provoked by the world of contemporary jewellery and objects. In this project, the artist aims to expose the tool in a new light by emphasizing its alternative identities. Indeed, the tool can cease to be just an inanimate tool. It can become alive and be reborn as jewellery, while keeping its spirit and properties as a tool.
The tool’s transformation story is complex as well. By looking at finished jewellery objects, with a bit of imagination and fantasy, different narratives are born. To illustrate the artist’s intentions, here is the amazing story of a pair of scissors and its transformation process from tool to accessory:
Transformation Steps
- Original scissors
The Life of Scissors
A glass maker cuts broken glass pieces into round shapes to make a necklace for his mother.
Identity of the Scissors
Tool, Functional, Boring, Dead
- Original scissors with a golden screw
The Life of Scissors
What a beautiful gesture. Surprise! The screw of his scissors decides to become golden!
Identity of the Scissors
Tool, Functional, Interesting
- Original scissors with a golden screw and with scissor handles melted down and stretched out by heat or fire
The Life of Scissors
The glass maker’s mother hears her son is making her a necklace. Her heart melts. Surprise! The scissor handles melt as well.
Identity of the Scissors
Tool, Functional, Interesting, Alive
- Original scissors with a golden screw, with scissor handles melted down and stretched out by heat or fire, all of which is attached to a pendant, to become a necklace
The Life of Scissors
Who knew scissors could be more than scissors! The glass maker decides to honour the scissors and transforms them into the necklace to give to his mother instead of using the broken glass pieces, which apparently, have no feelings.
Identity of the Scissors
Accessory, Tool, Functional, Interesting, Alive
World Youth Forum 2018
Heart Of Bread
Ingredients:
2.500g. austrian flour,
2.500g. egyptian flour,
Water,
Salt.
Basic food,
Food of life,
Brings us together at the same table,
Promotes communication
To share,
A necessity and not a luxury
Gallery Café Stockholm
Parallell
Base And Cultural Heritage
Freudenthal
News from Freudenthal
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