Merge

Photographer: Alyvia Luong

1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?

I often feel like I’m watching myself from the outside, trying to figure out how I fit into a world full of standards that don’t always align with who I am. My relationship with the world feels layered and conflicting, moments of connection and belonging mixed with times of distance and questioning. Living as a girl and now as a woman, I’ve felt the weight of these societal standards, how I should act, look, or think, often rooted in patriarchy. These standards challenge my sense of individuality, triggering feelings of frustration and rebellion that push me to create art in response.

My art becomes a way to rebel against these standards and the limitations they try to impose. Through wearable sculptures and jewelry, I channel the tension, vulnerability, and resilience I’ve felt while navigating them. Creating this work is my way of reclaiming control and carving out space for my own voice, rejecting the norms that don’t define me. My art isn’t about finding perfect answers, but about embracing the in-between, saying, “This is who I am, and this is how I see myself in the world.”

2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?

One of the most exciting and unexpected collaborations I’ve had was a project of art activation called 'Shared Memories,' held in May at a gallery. I invited people in the gallery to establish a shared memory with me, celebrating our moment together using a cup holder ring I had made. I captured a photo of us cheering together, printed two copies on thermal paper. One I kept as a personal memento, and the other I gave to the person, wrapped in a clear sleeve, as a 'receipt' of our shared moment. The activation statement emphasized how memories shape us and how every encounter, even with strangers, creates something significant. This collaborative experience revealed how art can transcend individual boundaries and connect people through shared moments. It was a beautiful reminder of how creativity can bring unexpected connections and meaning to our lives.

3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?

One project that really challenged my creative boundaries was ‘Humanization,’ which marked a significant shift in my practice from small-scale wearable sculptures to larger visual art works that explore the relationship between the body and its environment. ‘Humanization’ consists of two sculptures that discuss how nature, in its purest form, is shapeless and free. However, when nature exists within a highly humanized society, it is shaped and transformed according to human desires.

In ‘Humanization,’ the sculptures adapt the shapes of stone and mountain but are molded into rigid, predetermined forms that symbolize societal restrictions. The most challenging aspect was how the human body interacts with these sculptures, which are intentionally uncomfortable. When the body coexists with these pieces, it must endure physical discomfort. This discomfort represents the societal pressures that we must endure if we choose to fit in, highlighting the tension between freedom and conformity.

This project not only pushed me to think about how sculpture can interact with the body but also inspired me to work more interdisciplinary, combining different media to enhance the concept. After ‘Humanization,’ I began exploring how my work could go beyond just physical forms and involve more dynamic, sensory experiences. It made me realize that discomfort can be an entry point to deeper engagement, whether through the physical interaction with the sculptures or through how they challenge conventional ideas of space and the body. The project opened my eyes to how I can combine materials, body, and environment in new ways, leading me to explore installations and performances that allow my work to extend beyond traditional sculpture and jewelry.

4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?

What sets my work apart is the way I merge personal experience with broader societal issues, especially in the context of the human body. I create wearable sculptures and installations that challenge traditional ideas of adornment and the body’s interaction with its environment. I use wearable art as a vehicle for exploring concepts of discomfort, restriction, and identity. My work isn’t just about beauty or aesthetics; it’s about engaging the body in a way that reflects the tension between individuality and conformity in a highly structured society.

What makes my work unique is my ability to move fluidly between different media, from jewelry and sculpture to installations and performances. I see these as interconnected forms, each with the potential to amplify the emotional and conceptual undercurrents of my ideas. Through these explorations, I aim to create pieces that are not only physically engaging but also challenge the viewer to reflect on their own relationship with society.

5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?

As I reflect on my journey, my primary goal in the coming years is to further develop my brand and create a more sustainable practice that blends fashion, jewelry, and fine art. I am passionate about expanding my work beyond the traditional gallery setting by exploring interactive installations and performances that engage people in more personal ways. I also aim to build a stronger presence within the art and design communities, collaborating with like-minded artists and practitioners who challenge conventional ideas of adornment and the body.

• Team Credits

  Model: Veronika Kapetiy

  Model: Ruihong Liu

  Creative Director/Sculptor/Accessory Designer: Shu Wang

  Creative Director/Photographer: Alyvia Luong

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