Italy: Heritage & Contemporary Landscapes at the Puyuan International Contemporary Jewellery Art and Design Biennial

中文版 - Chinese version      

Artist list

Jivan Astfalck, Sara Barbanti, Raquel Bessudo, Maura Biamonti, Annarita Bianco, Alice Biolo, Roberta Consalvo Sances, Corrado De Meo, Ylenia Deriu, Fluxis | Mariangela Murgia e Alberto Catalano, Maria Rosa Franzin, Stefano Fronza, Xiaozhe Huang, Letizia Maggio, Gigi Mariani, Lieta Marziali, Simona Materi, Mineri Matsuura, Boglárka Mázsi, Militsa Milenkova, Francesca Mo, Sogand Nobahar, Mariagiorgia Pacini, Liana Pattihis, Roberta Pavone, Rosina Payan Pecorelli, Marco Picciali, Sara Progressi, Carla Riccoboni, Federica Sala, Giulia Savino, Chiara Scarpitti, Sílvia Serra Albaladejo, Ognyana Teneva, Barbara Uderzo, Pilar Viedma, Laura Visentin, Yiota Vogli, Yoko Takirai and Pietro Pellitteri, Annamaria Zanella, Babette von Dohnanyi

Italy is known worldwide for its fascinating natural landscapes and historical settlements. The country is famous for the so-called “art cities” such as Venice, Rome, Florence and many others, spread all over its lands and the education and training of each inhabitant is enriched by all these historical civilizations' references.

This heritage pervades the life of a resident artist, both born or living in Italy or professionally attracted and linked to our land. Even though the set of these territories is so small, if compared to the five continents, its deep extension in the Mediterranean basin sets the origin of its relationship with important traditions and exchanges of know-how through artistic practices.

In this exhibition, we would like to represent the ethos behind this background, acquired after centuries of development and exchange between Italian high craftsmanship and all the contaminations with peoples and practices worldwide. Italians are curious people; they have open-mindedness and empathy in their DNA. In the last five decades at least, contemporary jewellery became a medium for a new kind of expression for cutting-edge creative goldsmithing and took a prominent place in the most attentive cultural scene. Together with art and design, high craftsmanship forms today part of the most important heritage Italy can share with the world. And  in the field of contemporary jewellery, this fusion is brilliantly accomplished, allowing one of these three dominant elements to emerge in turn.
Thus, the overview visitors are enjoying carries an international message, made as a result of the close relationship Italian artists bring to their worlds, mainly through the context provided by AGC, the Italian Association for contemporary jewellery. Here they share experiences, influences and feelings with their colleagues, both inside our country and through international interactions. As its audience of collectors and passionates knows very well, contemporary jewellery is an environment very active and connected, like all other contemporary artistic fields. As photography, visual arts, performing arts, jewellery too - intended as a means of self-expression and wearable art - is now part of the global system of interralation in creative arts.

Like one of our main jewellery designer, GianCarlo Montebello (Milan IT 1941-2020), used to say (and taught us!), jewellery is intended to be a powerful ‘body ornament’, a real means of communication and a way to start a conversation, tuning the wearer with the observer … and who’s better than Italians to welcome guests for a nice chat!
Side by side with empathy and fascination, today the Italian section at JCC Puyuan Biennale wishes to highlight great skills in re-interpreting traditions and heritage through a various range of materials and a distinguished creative approach in combining traditional techniques with the most innovative ones. This is, of course, a trend one can discover through contemporary jewellery artworks of all countries, though we invite the audience to observe with all its attention and find out each detail which is a clue and a message carrying on the historical heritage and present way of life you can experience in Italy.

Curator: Eliana Negroni


Executive Committee: 
Biennale President: Chen Xianghong
Supervising Producer: Chen Yu
Chief Curator: Chen Youtong
Executive Producer: Yao Jie
Academic Director: Sun Jie
Art Director: Cao Xingyun
Project Director: Shi Chong, Liu Yunling, Shi Qi

Host Organization: 
Puyuan Fashion Resort

Organization Institutes: 
- Dingdu Cultural Foundation
- JCC International Contemporary Center
- TRIPLE PARADE


About Puyuan Fashion Resort

Puyuan Fashion Resort is the “twin ancient town” to Wuzhen, created by the same visionary planning and design team. While Wuzhen celebrates culture, Puyuan embraces fashion. The two sit side by side, complementing each other in theme, sharing resources yet thriving independently.

As China’s largest wool sweater market and knitwear hub, Puyuan Fashion Resort redefines fashion beyond clothing, curating a lifestyle of quality and aesthetics. It is designed as a dynamic ecosystem where design, showcase, trade, retail, and experience come together—making it not only a fashion industry cluster but also a high-end travel destination.

Drawing from the waterways and landscapes of Jiangnan, the town blends Tang and Song architectural influences with an imposing grandeur that sets it apart from traditional ancient towns. True to its identity as “China’s Fashion Ancient Town,” Puyuan is constantly innovating and breaking boundaries.

Since its grand opening in 2023, Puyuan Fashion Resort has become a stage for trend-setting events: the Douyin Creators Conference, GQ Men of the Year Gala, Puyuan Fashion Week, Figaro Music Party, Asia Wedding Style 2024, and the China showcase of New York Fashion Week · New Discoveries. It has also been featured in hit shows such as Everybody Stand By, Go Fighting!, Cats in the Box, and The Legend of Shen Li.

With every collaboration and cultural crossover, Puyuan Fashion Resort is accelerating its growth, proving itself as a bold fusion of tradition and fashion—and a new landmark on the global style map.