Wang Jun Yi (Chinese: 王俊懿; born 1974) is a contemporary Chinese jade sculptor and carving master[1][2][3] who was awarded the title of “Chinese Jade Carving Master” in 2006.[4] He is known for incorporating gold, silver and titanium alloy into jade.[1]
His works have featured at the Louvre,[1] the National Museum of China,[5] the 2010 Beijing Jewellery Show,[6] the Art Institute of Tsinghua[4] and have been the subject of significant auctions at auction houses such as Christie's[7] and Tian Cheng International.[8][9][10]
Life and career
editWang was born in 1974 in Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.[11] He graduated from a jewellery art school at the age of 16[11] and began sculpting jade around the age of 19.[1]
In 2011, Wang worked with Italian designer Fulvio Maria Scavia to incorporate jade into European jewellery.[11]
In 2012, Wang was the first jade artist to open a solo exhibition at the National Museum of China.[11]
In October 2014, Wang embarked on an international tour[12] which included a special exhibition of 50 of Wang's jadeite artworks at the Louvre from 30 October to 3 November 2014. His works featured as part of a promotion of diplomatic relations and culture between China and France.[4][13]
Jade-carving philosophy and style
editWang's aim is to give jade a new look, popularity and appeal[11] by challenging the norms of jade art which, for example, have tended to incorporate traditional elements such as the Chinese zodiac.
Wang's emphasis lies not on how good a material jade is, but on how one might achieve better artistic design with jade.[1]
Wang attributes his emotional connection with jade to the fact that, when Wang was a child, his mother would hide her jade bracelet from Wang by keeping it locked in a drawer. This caused Wang to believe that jade was 'mysterious and forbidden'. This, he says, created in him a hope that one day he would be able to play freely with jade.[11]
Notable jade works
editSome of Wang's signature works include:
- Ice Butterflies, a combination of 13 jade pieces resembling butterflies and melting ice.[1][5]
- Transforming into Butterfly, a butterfly held together by metal threads.[1]
- The Nile, used for the Louvre exhibition as it resembled the pyramid shape of the museum.[1]
- The Unlimited Power of Buddhism, a one-meter tall work that combined jade with titanium.[11]
- "A carved jadeite praying mantis, agate and diamond clip brooch" described by Christie's as a 'very personal interpretation of a universe of taotie masks, dragon and phoenix, salamander and bats emerging from the contrasting qualities and tones of the raw materials' which sold for US$24,799 on 1 June 2005.[7]
- "Icy lavender jadeite 'miniature buddha' and diamond pendent necklace"[10]
Wang has also announced his intention to make 200 jade butterflies to represent all the countries in the world.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jade is his trade|Life|chinadaily.com.cn". usa.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "王俊懿：弘扬中国玉文化 用灵魂打造时代精品". news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "中国珠宝玉石首饰行业协会". www.jewellery.org.cn. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ a b c "王俊懿简介". Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ a b "Metamorphosis". english.caixin.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "王俊懿 中国传统工艺大师作品网". www.cncrafts.org. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ a b "A CARVED JADEITE PRAYING MANTIS, AGATE AND DIAMOND CLIP BROOCH, BY ETCETERA". www.christies.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "www.tianchengauction.com/site/tiancheng/lot_detail;jsessionid=308FD5663FB9201883E3B988CEBA5F6A?num=15&start=9&lot_id=1400140&referer=list". www.tianchengauction.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "www.tianchengauction.com/site/tiancheng/lot_detail;jsessionid=852DA1C50911165EEEE3F4C351F4A0DB?lot_id=1400139&referer=list&start=9&num=15". www.tianchengauction.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ a b "Tiancheng International Auctioneer Limited". www.tianchengauction.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Chinese jade more precious than gold". www.shanghaidaily.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "2015王俊懿翡翠艺术20年历程国际巡展继续起航". Archived from the original on November 17, 2016.
- ^ ArtFish (2015-05-14). "Chinese Jade Carving Master Wang Junyi 玉雕大师王俊懿". China Cool Art. Retrieved 2016-11-17.