Yaning Liu is an artist, jeweller, and object maker based between London and Beijing. His journey in jewellery and object practice is an ongoing exploration, with a particular focus on the unstable relationships between objects, individuals, and communities. His recent research and interests centre on identity, emotionality, and the functional reconstruction of everyday objects, integrating material culture studies. Yaning’s practice examines human behaviour and social environments from the perspective of objects, endowing them with human-like perception and expressive abilities. He aims to build a material-based space through design and remaking, fostering equitable dialogue between the material world and communities.
CO: What ideas or themes inspire your work?
YL: The design inspiration comes from the fundamental interactions between people and everyday objects, exploring the gestures, movements, causality, consciousness, and changes within these dynamics. The design utilises everyday objects as a language, creating unfamiliar encounters with familiar items.
CO: Could you describe your approach within the broader jewellery field?
YL: My project explores the relationship and interaction between humans and the objects that surround us, examining this connection from both personal and object-oriented perspectives. By investigating the motivations, behaviours, and contextual factors involved, I aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of these complex dynamics.
In the design process, I reimagine interactions by reassembling objects and endowing them with human identity and life. This approach assigns narrative meaning and new value to everyday items. My research also seeks to promote awareness of sustainable practices, challenge the possibilities of jewellery, and explore interactivity in contemporary design.
CO: What are the biggest challenges you face in your practice?
YL: One of the biggest challenges I encountered during my design and production process was the editing stage. Given that my theme involves interaction with everyday objects, I have been constantly producing work, creating no fewer than 20 pieces, all of which explore re-interaction with various objects related to clothing, food, housing, and transportation. At this stage, I needed to assess which pieces not only had a strong visual impact but also encouraged a rethinking of materiality, identity, and function through interaction. Part of the process involved a dialogue with the audience and understanding their different interpretations of my work, which I believe is crucial for progress. These varied interpretations, often differing from my own intentions and ideas, drove me to reflect on my work.
Instagram @yaningjewellery
All featured images are courtesy of the artist.
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