DESIGN NAME: Fishing Net Necklace
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Neck Piece
INSPIRATION: Across the oceans Chinese culture has influenced the West, driving the European desire for all things Chinese. I studied this diverse integration of different cultures, by combining an aquatic Rococo design with research in the immediacy of the Hong Kong fish market. Inspired by its frightening and bizarre associations provided a contemporary edge to contrast the stylised ornament of Rococo. These shared histories come together in this piece that defines a opulent jewellery for the future.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The entire collection is handmade by high level of expertise and each jewellery piece is produced with intricate wax carving technique to create exquisite structure, which allows the radiant beauty of the jewellery to be appreciated.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: The necklace is using a pearl clasp which allow the wearer to put on and take off the necklace easily
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: Started September 2012 in London. It is the project for my Master degree for Central Saint Martin. Completed in June 2014 and exhibited in London during July and August in London. Awarded distinction for the master degree.
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: Wax Carving, Cold enameling , pearls beading
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: 150mm x 7mm x 180mm
TAGS: Rococo, French, Hong Kong Fish Market, Fish, Pearl Necklace
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: During my BA Course, I discovered Rococo and found it fascinating. Rococo is the fusion of the East and the West and I studied its diverse integration of different cultures to reflect my multi-cultural background. Throughout history, the Ocean has connected the Eastern and the Western world. The ocean has played a powerful role as a shared resources. I studied the aquatic animals because the Ocean is the medium that connects the East and the West.
I looked at Fish as one of the Eastern animal ornament. In Chinese culture a fish represents wealth and prosperity. I also studied fish from the rococo period as the european desire for Chinese things reached its height in the 18th century, and fish was highly regarded in Europe.
Then I also studied designers like Alexander McQueen and Marcel Wanders who borrowed elements from the past and turning them into contemporary as cast studies. They renewed the historical elements by combining new themes, new material or new elements that create contradictions to make their design contemporary. This has inspired me to look at other contemporary sources which is the Hong Kong Fish Market for new inspirations to contradict Rococo motifs to create jewellery for the future.
I looked at Hong Kong Fish Market for new inspiration. I am using the monstrous aspect that is frightening and bizarre as an element to contradict Rococo, which is intricate, feminine, opulent and curvaceous. I played around with the idea of inside and outside like anatomy, using rococo as the skin of the fish to covering up the monstrous aspect.
For the Research Methodology, I have used both primary and secondary sources. For primary sources, I went to The Ocean Park in Hong Kong, where they have a huge varieties of different goldfish and koi species. This can inform me the shape and forms for my jewellery collections. I have also went to various Hong Kong Fish markets for studying how fish being dissected and their internal organs. Apart from the fish research, I went to Marie Antoinette exhibition held in Paris and the Versaille to study arts, furniture, interior designs from the Rococo period. For the secondary research, I have used internet research and libraries. In this digital age, internet was profoundly useful for collecting images, facts and ideas.
I have experimented various techniques such as using vitreous enamel, cold enamel for intimating blood, and wax carving for creating the structure of the pieces.
CHALLENGE: The hardest part of this design activity would be the research development. As I was interested in the historical art period (Rococo), the most difficult challenge was to turn my design contemporary. I have then studied various successful designers such as Marcel Wanders and Alexander McQueen who would also studied historical themes and turned them into contemporary. These case studies were profoundly important to help me design my own collection. The second challenge would be the production possibilities. To create this piece, I have used wax carving techniques. The finished wax piece were huge in size for normal jewellery production. So the piece had to be divided into 3 pieces for the casting process. After they have been casted into silver, the pieces were soldered together and polished carefully to remove any cutting and soldering marks.
ADDED DATE: 2015-09-30 08:20:00
TEAM MEMBERS (1) :
IMAGE CREDITS: Image Credit: Lydia Marisa Siu
PATENTS/COPYRIGHTS: Copyrights belong to Lydia Marisa Siu, 2014
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