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Jewellery & Metal (MA)

张康怡 Kangyi Zhang

penguin

Kangyi Zhang is a metal and jewelry artist whose work is deeply inspired by her emotions. Using metal as her medium of choice, she creates pieces that embody her personal narrative. Each work reflects a specific moment in her life, drawing inspiration from her surroundings and the people who have shaped her journey.

The craftsmanship in this project encompass range of techniques, including forging, wax carving. With hand forging, she skillfully manipulates metal to create desired shapes and forms, imbuing each piece with a unique touch. Wax carving allows her to intricately carve and refine details to achieve an organic aesthetic.

Degree Details

School of Arts & HumanitiesJewellery & Metal (MA)RCA2023 at Battersea and Kensington

RCA Battersea, Woo Building, First and third floors

penguin eats shrimp

Penguin, Shrimp, Surrogacy

This project is a personal interpretation based on the food chain and the processes and cases within the surrogacy industry. It presents a scenario in which a penguin seeks a shrimp as its surrogate mother, creating an unexpected imaginary situation that invites contemplation. This metaphorical exploration challenges prevailing social norms and encourages a reevaluation of the perspectives embedded within societal constructs.

feathers
Obscured Punctures – This artwork features a tuft of feathers from a penguin, positioned on injection site. Intended to remind that when penguins desire to have offspring without bearing them in their own bodies, in vitro fertilization becomes essential in this interpretation. The initial step involves stimulating ovulation, which requires the use of injections.

Medium:

Cupronickel

Size:

12cm*6cm
round stones
Values of Different Eggs – The egg cluster on the shrimp within this project represents the varying value of different egg materials, referring to different egg qualities. Only high-quality eggs have a higher chance of successful fertilization and pregnancy. The opal in the middle stands for the fertilized egg.

Medium:

Bronze, quartz, garnet, ruby, opal

Size:

8.5cm*6.5cm
baby penguin in womb
Fetus in the Womb – The physical health risks are higher for both the baby and the shrimp, and severe complications might occur. This describes an injured womb during pregnancy.

Medium:

Bronze, cooper, gilding metal, quartz, jasper, mahogany obsidian, garnet

Size:

37cm*23cm*27cm
shrimp and penguin
During the Childbirth – This is the scene when the shrimp gives birth to the penguin baby.

Medium:

Aluminum, cupronickel, labradorite, resin

Size:

68cm*31cm
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Royal College of Art

Registered Office: Royal College of Art,
Kensington Gore, South Kensington,
London SW7 2EU