Ulla and Martin Kaufmann

Ulla and Martin Kaufmann have developed their aesthetic agenda together. The techniques used by gold and silversmiths are the focal point of their work and represent the basic thematic focus of their tableware, jewellery and cutlery. It rests on their exploratory approach to materials and the diverse possibilities it provides for expression. Ulla and Martin Kaufmann have been working in their own studio in Hildesheim for nearly forty years. The two artists have thus acquired unique skills over years of experience especially the knowledge of the properties of silver and gold, their materials of choice. This profound knowledge is an essential part of the indissoluble union of design and execution. The connotations are always dual: the form of objects stems from practical considerations; is, therefore, close to ideas of functional design. At the same time, individual expression born of the artists' mastery of their craft and their exacting aesthetic standards surrounds these pieces with the aura of works of art. This book reveals the secrets and beauty of the stunning pieces made by Ulla and Martin Kaufmann.In showcasing these objects, it establishes their aesthetic permanence as timelessly practical works. This book is published to accompany the exhibition of the same title at the Neues Museum, Staatliches Museum fur Kunst und Design in Nurnberg (starting on 18th March 2010), the Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus in Hanau (starting on 15th August 2010) and the Grassi Museum in Leipzig (starting on 17th November 2010).