About KC

《創作簡歴 Intro》

光藝廊珠寶設計工作室珠寶設計師——上海，2018

Jewelry Designer @Galleria LUCE——Shanghai，2018

GIA 應用珠寶家（AJP）——台北，2018

GIA <Applied Jewelry Professional (AJP) ——Taipei，2018

ICI 高級珠寶設計師文憑，2019
ICI <Advanced Jewellery Design Diploma>，2019

海外華人中外藝術展 <光之藝廊>，2022
Overseas Chinese International Art Exhibition <Gallery of Lights>，2022

《創作經歴 Bio》

Inspired by
European art and history

I held a strong interest in learning French when I was in University.  After I earned all the credits  and met the graduation criteria, I applied for and was accepted into an exchange student program in 2013-2014 to Sciences Po, the Institute of Political studies in Paris.  During my stay in Paris, I visited museums and art exhibitions periodically to get immersed in the beauty I saw there.  Thanks to the French holiday schedule, I had ample opportunities to travel around not only inside France, but also to other European cities many of which are cultural gems of human civilization such as London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Venice, Florence, Milan, Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Seville and Monte Carlo.  Those are the cities I planted my feet in when my schedule permitted and I enjoyed the different city smells and the varied cultures and just taking it all in.

Before my departure back to Asia, without planning to do so I chanced it and visited the exhibition held by Cartier in the Grand Palais, in which they showcased a series of masterpieces dated in the first decades of the twentieth century.  I was deeply moved by a jewellery piece, which is one of  Cartier’s iconic masterpieces: the Panther Brooch featuring a sapphire in perfect silky vivid blue.  I can still remember I was gasping for air inside my excited heart and I thought “If only one day, I can create this kind of art, that would be so wonderful! ”  I was hooked.

Through this experience, I knew firsthand that jewellery in its various forms integrates the beauty of nature (gemstones) and the beauty created in craftsmanship, and it is also a way to pursue and showcase the ultimate beauty on earth.

The determination of

setting my foot on
jewelry design

as a career

When I was back in Shanghai Asia, I was offered a position in the technology industry as an Executive Secretary.  3 years later, I found myself doubting that I could continue doing the same repetitive administrative work each day.  I asked myself “Is this (office work) what I want to do everyday for the rest of my life?  Does this fulfill me?”.  I knew I was getting bored and couldn't continue this way much longer with this kind of work.  At this point I had enough doubt and knew I had to change my career path.  Therefore, I started taking time for myself to just be and made lots of opportunities to do some soul searching.  I imagined different options for my work and during this process of discovery I allocated 10% of my salary every month for experimenting with different interests.  I wanted to learn new things.  I considered each experiment carefully and discarded the ones that didn't resonate with me.

After several months of my experimentation and discovery, I decided to change my career path to art, design or the fashion related industry.  Meanwhile, I found an old box of beads and accessory findings/parts in my closet, which I had bought several years prior.  I was inspired to use the things I found to make some accessories and handmade jewelry.  After I had a few pieces made I started to sell my works to family and friends.  It was a huge success and I was greatly encouraged.  Could I expand this into a business?  Then one day, a commission order came in and I was asked if I could do a custom jewelry design necklace of a cross!  This design might require the knowledge of jewelry design and a basic metal-smithing concept!  Could I do it?  I said: “YES!” without any hesitation even though I knew nothing about jewelry design and how a jewelry piece is actually fabricated.  This felt right and I knew deep in my heart that this opportunity was the answer to my prayers!  From this I started something that changed my whole life and my livelihood to a completely new story.  Designing jewelry is something I feel passionate about.  That’s how I started my journey as a jewelry designer, from nothing but a real order which in the end was everything!

Jewelry 
as a form of art in life

I've always seen Jewelry as a representation of life in art and this is the place where my design visions originate.  The history of People assembling stones and using precious materials imbued with wishes and positive intentions started before they even had language and words.  Adorning and decorating oneself has always been a profound part of human life.  Jewelry can be seen as our feelings about life in art , and it is as different as people and each life.  I nearly followed the set of rules laid out by traditional jewelers about what precious materials should be used in the making of a jewelry piece.  To me, I would much rather give credence to my clients inspirations in the decision making process.  Because we’re talking about making precious objects, which often carry profound personal meaning to the wearer, the definition of “precious” might vary from age to age and person to person.  "The boys Father always carried a special rock in his pocket that he felt was lucky and after his death his son carried it because the memory of it was precious to him."  If there’s only one mission in my jewelry design and fabrication, it is to complete a piece of work that can accompany people through decades, and shows or matches who they aspire to be in a stable form of jewelry.  In the past few years and up until now, the jewelry pieces I create with my team always follow this principle, and I turn my style of jewelry design into my means to express my art.  

I know with clarity that as a jewelry designer, what I can “DO” for a creative project, might come to an end at finishing the design and graphic works.  The rest I leave to the wearer's faith in the craftsmanship.  There is always an abundance of communication.  Finishing a piece of jewelry always involves several pairs of hands and loads of continuous consultations until it's completion.  “The ultimate beauty on earth” might be the eternal guideline for people working in the jewelry industry.  Starting from design, gemstones and craftsmanship, the people in those divisions dedicate themselves for ages in the quest of defining and redefining the concept of beauty.  In the end, the gathering together of beauty makes jewelry. 

In future, I hope to carry on with my personal creative projects of designing jewelry.  Jewelry design is the language I speak.  Gemstones and precious metals are my raw materials and craftsmanship my dream, to complete works that move people to appreciate the beauty of life!

During the Current times, I keep exploring to know more about myself on a basis of “How am I going to continue the jewelry business, my way?”  And what are other people in the jewelry business worldwide thinking about their engagement in the business?  I find my conclusion in a simple sentence: The idea of journaling about the inspirations came to me while creating the works that make me feel blessed.  Though the idea sounds plain and simple, I now can feel a resonant mindset with this idea expressed in the sentence.  In the phase of exploration on my journey, I once got lost in doubting myself competent enough to complete every task I was faced with.  But it all finally proved valid every time when during the creative process I was faced with, I questioned every moment whether I was competent enough to achieve a result that pleased everyone involved.  It was an easy discovery that there is a lot to learn including  knowledge of gems, craftsmanship styles, philosophy and insights into the jewelry industry.  After I had time to do a retrospect on the works I had completed over the course of recent years, I have seen my own ability progress and I embrace the value I dedicate to my jewelry design, and I finally found out that in every moment I was the perfect fit for the piece at hand.

“Now, that my explorations are done.”, ”I’m so grateful to be doing what I’m doing right now.”  These thoughts are the strong pillars that support me on my current pathway.  I've found bliss in jewelry design, and will keep going on this journey to see what gifts I discover along the way.

Journaling the inspirations that come to me and creating the works that make me feel bliss.