With the special exhibition Stories of HipHop, the Pforzheim Jewelry Museum is dedicated to the entire Hip Hop culture — from its origins in the 1970s to the present as a global cultural movement.
A central focus of the exhibition is so-called “bling-bling” jewelry, an integral element of Hip Hop culture. Large Cuban link chains, stone-studded rings, Creole earrings, grillz, sunglasses, and belt buckles — many of these pieces are custom-made for their wearers, reflecting personality, self-expression, and a sense of belonging.
Works by Grill Meister from Berlin, Playground from London and by Rouven Grötzki and Serkan Tuna from Pforzheim, among others, are on display.
The exhibition presents both original pieces and replicas, offering insights into the significance and role of jewelry within Hip Hop culture.
The objects are accompanied by photographs, album covers, and personal statements — including a large-format portrait series by photographer ONDRO.
Hip Hop is more than just music — it’s a culture that has evolved over decades and taken root around the world. Originating in New York in the 1970s, Hip Hop began to establish itself in Germany from the mid-1980s onward, eventually becoming a style-defining cultural movement.
The exhibition traces this development and also explores themes such as commercialization, diversity, and the sense of community within the Hip Hop scene.
The exhibition was curated by Tom Frietsch, with journalist Falk Schacht brought on board to write the exhibition texts and serve as co-curator.
Additional co-curators include photographer ONDRO, who contributes a dedicated portrait series, and Serkan Tuna, a member of the Southside Rockers.
The architectural design was realized by Jan Saggau of Studio JASA (Berlin), while the visual identity and graphic design were developed by the firm Import/Export, led by Lorenz Klingebiel and Dominik Krauß.
A particular highlight of the exhibition is the collaboration with the Faculty of Design at Pforzheim University.
Under the motto “Pforzheim Design meets Hip Hop”, students from the fields of fashion, jewelry, and accessories worked in interdisciplinary teams to create unique pieces for hip hop artists of their choice.
The project was led artistically and conceptually by Prof. Claudia Throm and lecturer Markus Müller from the Department of Fashion, together with Prof. Dr. Evelyn Echle from the Department of Art and Cultural Studies.
The projects are multifaceted: For Finna, a jewelry set made from preserved flowers displayed under a glass dome was created; for OG Keemo, a technically crafted textile vest with an integrated mask.
Additional works were created for Bush.ida, Nura, Melbeatz, Celo & Abdi, and Souly — each developed through a thoughtful engagement with the identity and aesthetic of the respective artist. This section of the exhibition is complemented by photographs by ONDRO, who portrayed the musicians alongside the custom-designed pieces.
The exhibition brings together a variety of personalities from various areas of Hip Hop Culture — from music and fashion to dance, photography and design.
Participating include Bush.ida, Celo & Abdi, DJ 5th Ton, DJ Defcon, DJ Friction, DJ MD (Mike MD), DJ Razé, Die Fantastischen Vier, Finna, GINO®, HipHop Kitchen, Katja Kuhl, Lyle Lindgren, Martha Cooper, Melbeatz, Mika Väisänen, Nura, OG Keemo, ONDRO, Plyground, Racé, Rouven Grötzki (GOLDCASE customs), Sascha “Psycomatic” Hummel, Scotty 76, Serkan Tuna, Skinny Finsta, Souly, Southside Rockers, Toni-L and Torch.
In addition to the exhibition, there is a wide-ranging accompanying program, including workshops, concerts and culinary events.
Among other things, there are street art and graffiti workshops, a sewing workshop about streetwear and hip hop, a three-course menu as part of the HipHop Kitchen, a break dance workshop with battles and a production workshop with a focus on rap and beats.
Another highlight is the GOLDTOWN HIPHOP JAM, which takes place in June. Many events are available free of charge or at reduced rates.
Current information on the program, registration and conditions of participation can be found at www.schmuckmuseum.de and www.storiesofhiphop.de.
Photos via Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim
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