Your use of materials like wood in your jewellery is particularly intriguing. Can you tell us more about the significance of wood in Chinese culture and how it informs your designs?

Wood is absolutely integral to Chinese culture and civilisation. It’s the material that has been used to build homes, tools and even scientific instruments throughout history. Beyond its practical applications, wood also holds deep symbolic meaning, representing elements like compassion and culture in the Chinese philosophical tradition.

This deep-rooted connection to wood is why it features so prominently in my jewellery designs. The square shape of my iconic rings, for example, is a deliberate departure from the traditional round form, which I see as a symbol of confinement and oppression. The square, with its four corners, represents freedom and the ability to breathe—a powerful metaphor for the female experience.

Your work is often described as having a strong literary and artistic influence. How do these elements shape your creative process and the final pieces?

I approach my jewellery design with a deep reverence for the written word and the visual arts. My Literati collection, for instance, is a nod to the scholar-gentry class that once dominated the cultural landscape of China, before their influence was eroded by colonialism and modernisation. In my work, I aim to resurrect and celebrate this rich tradition of the Renaissance man—the scholar-artist who was versed in a multitude of disciplines, from poetry to philosophy to the fine arts. This holistic, interdisciplinary approach is reflected in the layers of meaning and symbolism that I weave into each of my jewellery pieces.

Your event launched a Literati Speak jewellery collection and a new art book. There seems to be a natural extension of this artistic and intellectual exploration. Can you tell us more about it?

The Literati is a celebration of the scholar-artist tradition that has been so integral to my creative journey. It’s an opportunity for me to bring together my passions for jewellery, art and the written word in a dynamic, multifaceted event.

Through this event, I hope to not only showcase my latest jewellery designs but also to engage the audience in a deeper exploration of Chinese cultural heritage and the role of the artist-scholar in preserving and reviving these traditions. It’s a chance for me to share my unique perspective and inspire others to embrace the richness of their own cultural legacies.

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