fidem Medal
This medal was created in 2020 as a prize to be given to people for their support of the art of the medal and replaces the FIDEM at 70 medal. It was selected at a competition which was, due to the corona pandemic, held online. The competition was for a medal that celebrates the ethos of FIDEM and its support of the art and study of the medal, both contemporary and historical.
The medal by Anna Wątróbska-Wdowiarska (Poland) Through the medal to immortality is FIDEM’s premier award and will be conferred on those deemed to have assisted FIDEM in its aims in a very significant way. It was awarded for the first time during the XXXVI online congress (Tokyo) in December 2021.
Anna Wątróbska-Wdowiarska about her medal
"The spontaneity of gesture, the need to introduce deliberate order in arranging spatial plans, uniting the form, contrasting small delicate shapes with massive smooth spaces, rhythm, dynamics and monumentality of composition—this is a definition of contemporary medal—and since I am a sculptor, those are my tools to build a private platform of contact with other people.
I love sharing myself with others, I feel that when I do not do it, I only exist, not live. As eyes mirror the soul so my medals mirror my emotions.
In all my artworks I deal with intimate themes that I experienced and ruminated during my life till now. I am closely related to them—personally and emotionally. I try to depict and enhance it through adequate and conscious sculptural form.
Each theme I work upon brings to my mind a specific, individual interpretation of its essence by an adequate relief. I also seek new forms of plastic message which emphasize the individual character of each new medal. This continuous search prevents fossilization within one plastic convention, trains the mind and makes man learn, discover new things all the time and feel young and curious about the world.
A few words about the idea of the medal:
I wanted my medal to be a tribute to the art and research of contemporary and historical medals (the subject of the eye and magnifying glass)
I would also like to emphasize its unique role in human life - the pursuit of immortality, by retaining in time events, people, the world or individual feelings and emotions in such a unique, small form of art.
On the obverse: a copy of the Renaissance medal by Steven van Herwijck and my medal (negative) "20th Century Ballet - Morice Bejart".
Reverse: a copy of the ancient drachma and medal "Paris City Council" by Jules-Clement Chaplain (1839-1909)."
The FIDEM Medal has been awarded in 2025 to:
- HRH Duke Franz of Bavaria for his patronage of the exhibition and support of the congress
- Florian Knauss, director of the Antikensammlungen and Glyptothek, for hosting the exhibition
- Martin Hirsch for his invaluable work on organizing the congress
- David Weidgenannt for his invaluable work on organizing the congress and the exhibition catalogue
FIDEM Medal
artist: Anna Wątróbska-Wdowiarska
(Poland), 2020
100 x 100 mm, cast, bronze