QIANYING ZHU

Designer biography:

Qianying Zhu, Chinese. (She/Her). MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art, 2024. BFA, Savannah College of Art and Design, 2021. Qianying studies and trains herself as a jewelry designer and focuses on artistic jewelry and self-expression. She infuses her work with humor and wit. Her work is a celebration of life's little wonders. It's about finding joy in the ordinary and sharing that joy with others. Her art, whether it's jewelry or something else, will bring companionship and joy. She aims to draw out the playful and happy emotions in people's hearts, reminding them of the simple pleasures in life.

Collection concept:

The concept of time pervades the field of art in various ways. To me, every individual is a vessel of time. Just as knots, hourglasses, and clocks help us record time and serve as its carriers, "I" myself, every inch of my skin, every thought, and every change, represent "fragments of time." These fragments, bit by bit, constitute "me," a collection over **year. In other words, every "fragment of life," composed of every minute and second, is a physical representation of time.

I have chosen the traditional Chinese Zodiac to represent this physicalized "time." The origin and development of the Chinese Zodiac date back centuries. As a tool for measuring time and a cultural symbol, the Chinese Zodiac is highly representative, both in its practical function for timekeeping and in the cultural meanings that have evolved from it.

I aimed to integrate innovation with traditional jewelry elements by redesigning the images of the twelve zodiac animals. My inspiration comes from pearls, beads, and the outlines of cartoon characters. Thus, I transformed them into twelve distinct, smooth, slightly rounded, cute, and interesting beads. Moreover, I have brought these ideas to life through 3D printing, introducing a wider selection of colors to my pieces while also infusing them with a more modern sensibility. By utilizing them, I was able to visualize fragments of time. This allows time to "navigate" and "display" within my creations, better reflecting certain moments or the varying significance of temporalities. Introducing the element of flowing time enables some events or their temporalities to be presented more vividly. On the other hand, the images or animal figures of the twelve zodiac beads bring more fun and whimsical inspirations and associations to my work. The metal parts in my creations are primarily responsible for constructing scenarios and facilitating associative thinking, working in concert with each other to help me capture and present the moments I wish to seize and document.

Qianying Zhu (China/USA)

QIANYING ZHU

Designer biography:

Collection concept: