Xiaoqing Rong

XIAOQING RONG

XIAOQING RONG, jewellery artist, DELVES INTO HUMAN EMOTIONS THROUGH METALWORK. HER PIECES UNRAVEL THEMES OF solitude, digital existence, AND THE blend of physical and virtual realms, INVITING CONTEMPLATION OF HUMAN CONNECTION.

ARTIST STATEMENT

In the quiet spaces of solitude, where whispers of distant relationships echo, my journey through the intricate world of jewellery began. At Pratt Institute, my craft became a silent dialogue between the self and the absence of others. It was here that the themes of isolation and the vast stretches of emotional landscapes first wove themselves into the narrative of my work. The very essence of solitude, with its silent shadows, became my muse, guiding my hands in the creation of pieces that spoke to the unspoken in the collection Rebuilding the Verification of Existence.

Now at the Royal College of Art, my inquiry has broadened its horizons. The once internal reverie of distance has unfolded into the vast expanse between the digital and the physical. Here, my work, an alchemy of metal and emotion, engages with the ethereal boundaries of our digital existence— the boundaries stand invisible yet insurmountable.

This expansion of my thematic universe is not a departure but a poetic journey across the continuum of human connection. The solitude that permeated my initial work finds its echo in the silent spaces where the physical world fails to touch the digital realm.

In this, jewellery transcends its traditional role, embodying a medium through which we can investigate the intersection of our cognitive landscapes with the digital environment. It invites a tactile engagement with conceptual questions about our existence and interactions in a world where the digital and physical are inextricably linked, yet distinctly separate. My work seeks to capture the essence of this dichotomy, and invites wearers to contemplate the paradox of our age: the profound intimacy of our solitary journeys, and the complex dance of our interactions in a world where the digital and the physical strive to converge.

ARTWORK STATEMENT

Rebuilding the Verification of Existence - This project chronicles my journey from solitude, marked initially by negative emotions, towards a state of selfacceptance. In this process, I witnessed myself in various states of social distress. Limited activity, social distance and extended time spent alone led to anxiety, loneliness, fear, and confusion.

During the Covid pandemic, NYC and the world have slowed down a bit, everything moves slowly. This allowed me to look at my surroundings and see things I have never seen before. Every object in this collection has a trace of real life. They visualise the beauty and fragility of my so-called negative feelings.

Life’s traces bring nostalgic feelings of having a connection with someone or something. Words explaining emotions are abstract, general, and overused. Instead, I designed objects that can be touched by and connected with the body, to imitate and embody feelings. By incorporating transparent materials such as acrylic, resin and crystals with sterling silver, these feelings are captured in each piece of jewelry.

Those concentrated depressing emotions illustrate an image of myself that I have never seen before, and introduce me to the importance of self-acceptance. This thesis has become an act of self-improvement. I do not want to fight against these negative emotions, but rather, as in Eastern philosophy, I want to move with the resistance to go with the flow.

The "self" in this collection includes not only me but also other people in similar situations. By touching these negative feelings, we ground ourselves in the world, assuring ourselves that we can exist in different ways. It also explores who we are and where we belong.

What led you to focus on exploring themes of isolation and emotional landscapes in your jewellery?

During the Covid pandemic in 2020,I found myself alone in New York City, enduring a prolonged separation from my family and the majority of my friends. The implementation of social distancing measures, curfews, and self-quarantine caused the world to slow its pace significantly. In this decelerated reality, I gained the opportunity to observe my surroundings with newfound clarity, noticing intricacies that had previously eluded my attention. Since then, I've embarked on an exploration of absence through the lens of everyday objects, trying to imbue them with intimacy and emotion through reconstruction.

How do you navigate the intersection between the physical and digital realms in your jewellery pieces?

In the creation of most of my pieces, I intertwine 3D printing, scanning, and traditional jewellery craftsmanship, navigating between the digital and physical realms. As someone deeply entrenched in the digital sphere, I seek to illustrate the interplay between these two worlds, showcasing their divergence and convergence along an invisible boundary. Through this process, I explore the dynamic relationship between technology and tradition, inviting viewers to ponder the intersections and disparities between the digital and physical realms.

Your collection "Rebuilding the Verification of Existence" delves into constructing wearable objects that embody fleeting emotions like depression and anxiety. Could you discuss your approach to capturing such intangible aspects of human experience?

Emotions, fleeting and intangible, stand in stark contrast to the tangible and enduring nature of the objects that surround us. Throughout the pandemic, as I spent extensive periods alone in my apartment, I found myself intimately acquainted with these familiar objects that have been part of my daily life for years. From the floor plan to the chain lock on the door, each item seemed to reverberate with significance. Recognizing their role as both companions and repositories of untapped emotions, I resolved to immortalise them in silver, integrating transparent materials to symbolise the emotions that often elude our grasp. These objects are not mere possessions but vessels of unseen sentiments that accompany us on our journey through life.

The use of transparent materials like acrylic, resin, and crystals in your jewellery pieces adds an intriguing dimension. How do these materials contribute to conveying emotions in your work?

Transparent materials have consistently been my instinctive choice when attempting to convey intangible concepts or emotions. The transparency they offer creates a shell or a sense of emptiness within the piece, evoking the presence of absence. Furthermore, this transparency signifies an intention of dematerialization, inviting viewers and wearers alike to contemplate themes of absence, loss, emptiness, invisibility, and fragmentation.

Can you share insights into the symbolism behind some of your pieces, such as "Knock knock..." and "Sorry! The number you dialled..."?

The "Knock knock..." ring represent a transparent door can not be open from inside and outside, the pair of rings supposed to be wear on the index fingers on both hands separately, the "Knock knock..." text appears on the opposite side of the invisible wall, and when the wearer wear the ring with both hands, the lock could never be open. The inspiration for the silver chain lock stemmed from the nightly ritual of checking its position on my apartment door before retiring to bed. Beyond its practical function of providing security, this simple object serves as a prohibition for interactions with the outside world.

"Sorry! The number you dialled..." is a pair of earrings, they convey a unique form of intimacy by transferring screenshots of my recent phone records onto metal sheets, with hand-chased numbers capturing each entry. However, the absence of familiar contacts renders these records as numerical sequences rather than recognizable names. Each digit stamped onto the metal surface encapsulates the isolation and longing for connection, highlighting the profound impact of distance and separation on one's sense of belonging and companionship.

Your project "Rebuilding the Verification of Existence" seems deeply personal yet universally resonant. How do you balance conveying your own experiences while creating work that speaks to a broader audience?

To be honest, when I initially embarked on this project, I didn't give much thought to the audience. My focus was solely on the therapeutic journey of bringing my feelings to life through tangible artefacts. However, as people encounter these objects — each unique and devoid of shared design elemens—they seem to enter a shared realm evoked by the objects themselves. This resonance may stem from our collective memory of the pandemic. In each piece, viewers may recognize objects that have been constant companions throughout this challenging time, yet have often overlooked the emotions they carry. It's this shared familiarity that bridges the gap between individual experiences, inviting others to reflect on their own journeys and the hidden depths of everyday objects.

What themes or ideas are you eager to explore in your future artistic endeavours?

I am currently studying at the Royal college of art. My work started to explore the juxtaposition and interplay between the digital and physical realms, rooted in my personal experiences with 3D modelling and the inherent frustrations of digital command errors. Specifically a digital splitting error : split failed, because the two objects are not intersecting” Based on the concept of the Illusion of Intersection - the elusive boundary where the digital and physical realms nearly converge but ultimately remain separate. My work symbolises the disconnects and diffractions that occur between our (physical) intentions in the digital world and the digital manifestations in the physical world.

ARTIST BIO

BORN AND RAISED IN BEIJING, XIAOQING RONG IS AN ALUMNA OF Pratt Institute WHERE SHE EARNED A B.F.A. IN Jewelry WITH A MINOR IN fashion IN 2021. SHE IS CURRENTLY ADVANCING HER STUDIES WITH AN M.A. IN Jewellery and Metal AT the Royal College of Art. IN HER SENIOR ACADEMIC YEAR, HER WORK BEGAN TO PIVOT TOWARDS THE realms of untouchable emotions AND self-acceptance, EXPLORING THE LESS TANGIBLE ASPECTS OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE. HER COLLECTION, "Rebuilding the Verification of Existence," DELVES INTO THE INTRICATE PROCESS OF construction and deconstruction, CAPTURING LIFE’S SUBTLE DETAILS AND TRANSMUTING THEM INTO WEARABLE OBJECTS. RONG'S PIECES EMBODY A NARRATIVE WHERE FLEETING EMOTIONS LIKE depression, anger, AND anxiety ARE GIVEN PERMANENCE, WITH HER ARTICULATION AND RECONCILIATION OF THESE FEELINGS FORMING AN INTEGRAL PART OF HER ARTISTIC IDENTITY.

REVIEW

Xiaoqing Rong's artistic journey unfolds like a delicate dance between the tangible and the intangible, weaving intricate narratives of emotion and selfdiscovery through the medium of jewellery and metalwork. Hailing from the vibrant city of Beijing, Rong earned a B.F.A. at Pratt Institute in New York and is now pursuing an M.A. at Royal College of Art in London.

Her collection, "Rebuilding the Verification of Existence," stands as a testament to her artistic prowess and introspective depth. With sterling silver as her canvas and emotions as her palette, Rong crafts pieces that transcend mere adornment, becoming vessels for the human experience itself. Through meticulous attention to detail and a keen sensitivity to materiality, she breathes life into abstract concepts like depression, anxiety, and solitude, transforming them into tangible artefacts that resonate on a deeply personal level.

What sets Rong's work apart is its profound universality. While rooted in her own journey of self-acceptance and introspection, her creations possess a remarkable ability to touch the hearts and minds of viewers from all walks of life. In a world marked by increasing isolation and disconnection, Rong's jewellery serves as a beacon of empathy and understanding, inviting us to confront our own emotions and vulnerabilities with courage and compassion.

In pieces like "Knock knock..." and "Sorry! The number you dialled...," Rong invites us to explore the subtle nuances of human connection and separation. Through symbolism-rich designs and thoughtful craftsmanship, she encapsulates the fragility of our relationships and the profound impact of distance on our sense of belonging. Each piece becomes a poignant reminder of the beauty and complexity of the human experience, urging us to embrace our imperfections and celebrate our shared humanity.

Looking to the future, Rong's exploration of the intersection between the digital and physical realms holds great promise. By seamlessly blending traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology, she opens up new frontiers of artistic expression, challenging us to rethink our perceptions of reality and existence in an increasingly digital age.

In conclusion, Xiaoqing Rong emerges as a luminary of emotion in the world of metalwork, casting light on the hidden depths of the human soul with each exquisite creation. Through her art, she invites us to embark on a journey of self-discovery and contemplation, reminding us of the transformative power of empathy, connection, and self-acceptance.