Yuqing Wu

Yuqing is a jeweller from China. Their knowledge of jewellery originates from the family business that has been run since their parents. From birth, they have been exposed to classic commercial jewellery. When Yuqing was a child, they were deeply influenced by the exquisite craftsmanship of commercial jewellery and the rigorous production process of the factory. They began to study in a business school in the United States in 2015. They mainly studied economics, finance, management and so on. But at the same time, they also felt strongly inspired by the huge cultural and aesthetic differences between China and the United States. They began to frequently browse major museums and galleries, trying to gain insight into art from its history and popularity. As a Generation Z designer, Yuqing's understanding of jewellery challenges their parents' traditional commercial jewellery. They believe that the charm of jewellery should not be limited to materials and craftsmanship, or manipulated by capital and consumption. Jewellery, as an independent form of artistic expression, should be pure and self-expressive.

The focus of Yuqing's work is ‘anti-digitisation’. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is forcing almost everyone on the planet to learn to survive in the world of the Internet. Digital art, virtual universes, and artificial intelligence have built a world in which humans can access everything as long as they have digital devices.

Yuqing also tried to use artificial intelligence and a parametric design process to generate jewellery pieces in the first year of their MA at RCA. But the emptiness that followed made them reflect. Can virtual art really bring you satisfaction? Or are you just forcing yourself to learn this software in order to keep up with the fashion? When doubts started to arise in their mind, they tried to change.

If traditional craftsmanship were used to create a piece of jewellery that existed on a phone/computer screen, what would it look like? What if the pictures on a mobile phone actually existed in real life? What if humans really lived in a flat world with only XY axes?

Starting from this concept, Yuqing created three series of works: A Flat Ring, the prototype for which comes from a signet ring they designed many years ago. A Flat Engagement Ring, the prototype for this is the most popular 6-prong setting engagement ring style in the contemporary jewellery market that Yuqing obtained from the image material online. A Flat Bracelet, the prototype for which can be found on the official website of the Palace Museum https://www.dpm.org.cn/home.html (search for the keyword ‘bracelet’: the first bracelet that appears is named A Pair of Gold Bracelets with the Design of Nine Dragons Playing with Pearls, Qing Dynasty).

Yuqing attempts to restore the normal process by which human beings obtain information online, and to restore the image information to the physical existence of 3D objects made of copper/silver. When these objects are actually made, you will notice their size, shape, and how incompatible they are with the real world.

Result

a part of Data Set

Grey

This project is a model image of thousands of jewellery generated using artificial intelligence.

Medium:

Video

Size:

256x256

The prototype of this series is a signet ring I designed 7 years ago. These 6 works are 6 angles generated by slowly rotating the ring, and each angle is separated by 15 degrees.

Medium:

Copper and Brass

Size:

44.03x49, 47.747x49, 49.004x49, 48.643x49, 32.797x49, 24.198x49

Please start paying attention to the authenticity of the pictures. How much do you believe a picture? How much do you trust your eyes? This is not a ring, nor is it a photo.