Colour is More Than Just a Language of Form in Yajie Hu’s Work

Her jewellery work has been exhibited in various countries, including Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, Greece, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. She has received several international awards, including the Preziosa Young 2019 in Florence and the Porto Joia Award in Porto, and was a finalist in the 10th edition of the Arte y Joya International Award in Barcelona.

Yajie received international attention and recognition for her brooch collection Tangible Colour (Figure 1-5), created in 2017. The materials used in the collection include acrylic paint, silver, PVC sheet, and stainless steel. This article will focus on discussing this collection.


Figure 1. Brooch collection: Tangible Colour, Yajie Hu, 2017. Materials: Acrylic paint, silver, PVC sheet and stainless steel. Photo by Yajie Hu, 2017


Through this collection, Yajie’s artistic practice in jewellery appears to be rooted in a deep dialogue with colour itself. She not only uses colour to depict the world but also allows it to become the central voice of her narrative. In her hands, colour is endowed with a power that goes beyond visual perception, serving as a medium that links memory, emotion, and the body.

Figure 2. Brooch collection: Tangible Colour, Yajie Hu, 2017. Materials: Acrylic paint, silver, PVC sheet and stainless steel. Photo by Yajie Hu, 2017


In collection Tangible Colour, Yajie demonstrates an exceptional sensitivity to color. Interestingly, this sensitivity does not stem from a rational study of colour theory, but rather from a deep emotional intuition which rooted in her keen observation of subtle emotional shifts found in nature. Using PVC sheets as the base structure, she imbues the work with a sense of organic vitality through the use of acrylic paint, transforming colour from a mere surface treatment into a materialised expression of memory and feeling.

Figure 3. Brooch collection: Tangible Colour, Yajie Hu, 2017. Materials: Acrylic paint, silver, PVC sheet and stainless steel. Photo by Yajie Hu, 2017


Highly saturated colours such as red, yellow, and green are not merely decorative choices but extensions of her inner feelings. Combined with form, these colours symbolise a vibrant and intense state of life and may also serve as a metaphor for the transformation of energy in nature.

Figure 4. Brooch collection: Tangible Colour, Yajie Hu, 2017. Materials: Acrylic paint, silver, PVC sheet and stainless steel. Photo by Yajie Hu, 2017


In terms of form, Yajie draws inspiration from natural shapes and translates her perceptions into abstract language. Upon closer inspection, each piece is composed of layered acrylic paint forms that resemble alphabetic or ideographic characters. Individually distinct, these acrylic paint layers merge under the guidance of colour, achieving unity through organic rhythm. This labour-intensive process not only demands great patience but also reflects the artist’s deep mastery of both material and structure. Here, colour and shape resonate with one another, together creating a visual language that is both emotional and analytical. 

Figure 5. Brooch collection: Tangible Colour, Yajie Hu, 2017. Materials: Acrylic paint, silver, PVC sheet and stainless steel. Photo by Yajie Hu, 2017


By combining abstract forms inspired by nature with vibrant colours, Yajie explores the boundaries between perception and the body, as well as emotion and materiality. Her jewellery becomes not only wearable objects but also triggers for tactile and sensory experiences. Each piece in the collection “Tangible Colour” is a crystallisation of emotion. They are indeed “tangible colour”, evoking sensory memories and emotional resonance when worn and touched by the wearer through everyday life.
 

About the author

Zhipeng Wang is an internationally renowned contemporary jewellery artist working between China and Germany. He received his BFA in Jewellery Art and Design from the China Academy of Art in 2019 and completed his MFA in 2024 at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich, where he studied under Professor Karen Pontoppidan. His work has been exhibited internationally in countries such as Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Romania, and the United States. He has taken part in well-known events such as Schmuck 2024, and has also won awards like the 1st BKV Prize 2024, the Preziosa Young Design Competition 2021, and a special prize at the 30th International Jewellery Competition Touch, among others.
Additionally, his works are held in both private and public collections, including the Auckland Museum in New Zealand, the China Academy of Art Museum, the Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus Hanau in Germany, the Legnica Art Gallery in Poland, and Le Arti Orafe Jewellery School in Italy.