Ho Oi Ying Valerie

Designer biography:

Ho Oi Ying Valerie (she/her) is a jeweler born and raised in Hong Kong. She received her MFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2023 and BA from the Academy of Visual Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2018. Valerie's artistic practice is deeply rooted in her perception of the environment and political landscape, often employing everyday objects as a medium for expression. Her jewelry eloquently encapsulates her identity within the socio-political context of Hong Kong, reflecting her insightful commentary on contemporary issues.

Participated exhibitions include “Madrugada: Jewellery and the Politics of Hope” (Lisbon Design Museum, Portugal, 2024, “Brussels Jewellery Week International exhibition PARTICLE[S]” (MAD Brussels, Belgium, 2024), “STORYTELLERS” (Ombré Gallery, United States, 2023), “THE MARZEE INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE SHOW” (Galerie Marzee, The Netherlands, 2023), “Battle of the Pins” (Munich Jewelry Week, Germany, 2023) and “SIGNS, SIGNALS, + SYMBOLS” (Baltimore Jewelry Center, United States, 2022).

Collection concept: “STORE ROOT”

Following the National Security Law introduced in 2020 by the Chinese Government in Hong Kong, a large "grey area" exists around what constitutes a violation of this law.* Invisible political red lines are interwoven into a surveillance net, and citizens fear drastic censorship upon expressing their dissatisfaction with the government. As an artist working abroad, and in support of those citizens who remain in Hong Kong under these burdensome conditions, I propose a visual protest system that consists of wearable objects to (hypothetically) be disseminated to the 90s-born generation who were central agents in the protest. Developed as a strategy of intervention, a system of satirical and popularised coded symbols allows individuals to encounter power without compromising safety.

Ho Oi Ying Valerie - Hong Kong - Global Creative Graduate Showcase

Ho Oi Ying Valerie

Designer biography:

Collection concept: “STORE ROOT”