Munich in March may be cold but it is a hot focal point for fresh talent in craft and design when each year selected international artists travel to Germany to be part of Talente the prestigious international exhibition held during the Munich International Trades Fair. Since 1979 Talente has showcased emerging artists, ideas and trends from the international world of craft and design.

Organisers of the event have high expectations; Talente aims to "transcend frontiers to become a global rendezvous for creative young people and crafts design".

Talente is reserved for artists under the age of 30 and is highly competitive; this year over 300 applications were received with 96 artists from 25 countries selected by the judges, who look for high levels of skill and innovative use of new technology.

To enter Talente artists must be nominated by a training academy, college or university - the jury then selects finalists to be exhibited. To be successful applicants need to show something new, stunning and exceptional.

Glass, ceramics, jewellery and textiles as well as furniture design, metal working, printing, paper and technology are eligible; ceramics dominated this year, while glass, which was not as prominent as last year, was well represented by the Czech Republic and Scandinavia. Textiles also emerged this year as a strong presence.

Australia did exceptionally well this year, with nine Australian finalists presenting work of exceptionally high standard that showcased the use of skilled tradition and innovative techniques. Only the host country, Germany (with 19) and the United Kingdom (9) made as much impact.

Australian artists selected to exhibit at Talente this year were Alexander Boynes (22) of Melbourne, Gold and Silver Smithing, Graduate of Australian National University; Elizabeth Delfs (20), of Perth, Fashion and Textile Design, Graduate of Curtin University; Christopher Harman (28), of Canberra, Ceramics and Glass, Graduate of Australian National University; Emily O'Brien (26) of Canberra, Designer/Gold and Silver Smithing, Graduate of Australian National University and University of Canberra; Viola Hofer (23) of Sydney, Furniture Design, Graduate of College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales; Vanessa Raimondo (29) of Melbourne, Gold And Silver Smithing, Graduate of RMIT; Elliat Rich (26), of Alice Springs, Designer, Graduate of College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales; Kristy Toepfer (24), of Sydney, Glass Artist, Graduate of University of Sydney; and Annette Wiguna (21), of Perth, Fibre and Textiles, Graduate of Curtin University.

Alexander Boynes' work, titled While they Slept, presented a series of pillow-shaped aluminium sculptural light forms. The pieces could be viewed in daylight to reveal their sculptural form, or at night to allow the narrative imagery to emerge. In both states these pieces perform as floating pillows, each containing portraits.

Elizabeth Delfs' textile designs focus on the juxtaposition of art and fashion. Her work, which uses unconventional non-woven materials, investigates beauty, which she sees as "a resistance against the indoctrination of gender through contemporary fashion and the power of the international media". Elizabeth's multi-functional garments question the tradition of Western fashion - where the sex of the body beneath is implied by its structure.

Christopher Harman's themes address surface texture and internal space. His work, chosen for the cover of the Talente catalogue, contrasts the inside and the outside, a concept that stems from his fascination with minerals and rock formations. His use of glaze treatment adds complexity and intrigue to each form, weighing the importance of viewing the internal and external space of the form as equal.

Contemporary jewellery by Emily O'Brien investigated traditional forms of body decoration. Exploring themes of class and social hierarchy, her work confronts issues of identity and acceptability.

Vanessa Raimondo's work, an extremely durable textile, is highly practical and multifunctional. This polyester fabric has been coated with UV stabilized PVC. It can be used for architectural applications, acting as a filter of heat from the sun yet it does not compromise the admission of light. When placed on the body, this fabric is difficult to identify as hard, soft, heavy or light.

Elliat Rich considers the sustainability of values and rituals of culture and the ability to carry these aspects to the future with her sheltering system. Her design encourages a nomadic culture within the urban environment. The dual-component system consists both permanent and portable structures.

Kristy Toepfer focuses on line, form and function in her glass designs. Her exploration of form and beauty and a "less is more" approach developed this series of functional work, which has explored themes of control within a chaotic contemporary society.

Annette Wiguna uses light, transparent textiles such as silk to explore her own ideas of cultural displacement. Drawing inspiration from Javanese shadow play puppetry (Wayang Kulit) this work investigates childhood memories, presence and absence, the visible and the invisible, and known and unknown worlds.

With an international visitor audience of around 100,000, a high quality catalogue and a contest of annual prizes, strong media coverage and design and manufacturing industry interest, Talente is a key event for young Australians. This year, major private television channels in Germany aired special features on Talente and organisers have suggested bigger crowds have not before made their way through the halls at Talente.

It is a networking opportunity for emerging artists - visitors to Talente comprise experts and professionals in crafts and applied arts, including directors, curators, publishers, and private collectors. The weekend turns into an international meeting point for many craft sectors, particularly jewellery, which see gold smiths from the international jewellery scene gather to consider the new talents.

Talente is a chance to be part of an exhibition of international significance. For the artists selected, inclusion in Talente is a great opportunity to present work to an international market, and to use the experience to develop their careers.

It is essential for Australian craft and design practitioners to expand their audience and market presence internationally, and success at Talente demonstrates the depth of new talent and skill that Australia has.

Australian involvement in Talente is coordinated by JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design on behalf of the VACB of the Australia Council, the Federal Government's funding body. Talente is one of a number of events identified in the VACB's International Craft Strategy, others being SOFA in Chicago and COLLECT in London.

Nominations of the new generation of artists working in applied arts, design and technology are sought for Talente 2006. Guidelines and application documents will be available in June. Contact your tertiary training institution, JamFactory or Talente direct - visit them at website: http://www.hwk-muenchen.de (in German) for further details.

Sophia Travers
Project Coordinator
International Recurrent Craft Events
JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design