Jiarong Xu is a Chinese-born jeweller who is currently graduating in Jewellery & Metal at the Royal College of Art. She works with jewellery as a medium of self-expression, personal narrative and emotional embodiment, attempting to evoke an emotional resonance in the audience through specific symbols.
Jiarong Xu
This collection explores the absence of jewellery as an expression in the work beyond loss, which encompasses regret for what is unrealised and the absence of an identity desired by society and family. The design of the negative space is used to communicate this absence, evoking a sense of loss in the face of absence. The materiality of clay's extraordinary ability to retain the human touch brings to life the passage of time and memory. It bears witness to every kneading and squeezing, encapsulating the essence of the past. This materiality is used as an expression of the regret, weight and longing of memory. What is beyond doubt is that this emotional resonance of memory is precious and immortal. Thus, the meaning of silver's value as a precious metal is transferred to the kneaded form, forming a creative language. This collection evokes the audience’s imagination and encourages them to arrive at their own place of memory through white space.
The ring that briefly belonged to her
The proof that they loved each other
The Stolen Ring
The promised family ring she didn't get
The expected engagement ring
A designer loses the right to sell her creations
Lost friendship
Lost love