You Have Your Whole Life to Make Something Beautiful, Why Not go Crazy Now. Yue Tong interviewed by Klimt02

What's local and universal in your artistic work?
I am born and raised in China, where people don’t normally express how they truly feel directly. It becomes my struggle, as I can feel so much more than I can express through words. It is painful to hold back feelings any longer. Jewellery came to me just at the right time, I chose it to mediate between me and my thoughts. My practice helps me to express myself, it is a language that only those who have the same struggle will understand. It is also therapy, a cure for anxiety and solitude…a way to tell people I can feel you, and you are not alone.
 

What do you expect when you show your work to the public (for example, with an exhibition)?
I want to create a shared feeling between me and the viewers. It’s about finding each other. For example, in my collection Phone addition. It suggests that smartphones create an illusion of companionship without the demands of real-life interaction. This is an idea I want to convey, and I want my audience to bring back the real moment of being together with me. And to establish a balance between virtual and real life.
 

How important is the handmade for you in your development? What role does technics and technology play in your development?
I like to use technology to help me create my work. That is to say, handmade is not a must in my creation. Rhino CAD helps me to create basic shapes, it also shows me various options. And I guess I will use it more often in my following projects.
 

When you start making a new piece what is your process? How much of it is a pre-formulated plan and how much do you let the material spontaneity lead you?
It often starts with an idea, an idea that is difficult to speak out loud in words. That is when it comes to using jewellery to mediate in between. I use the computer to create shapes, it shows me many possibilities, different compositions that can bring out my idea most efficiently.
 

How important is wearability in contemporary jewellery? And in your pieces?
Wearability is a board concept in contemporary jewellery. It can mean something that is attached to the body. Wearability is a reflection of the concepts. Either it is comfortable or not.
 

The last work, book, film, city that moved me was...
Angelica Dass, a photographer from Spain and her on-going project Humanae moved me deeply. I love how she uses photography to deploy a chromatic range of different human colour. She is using her work to make the world a little bit better and I absolutely adore it.


What/who is the biggest influence in your career?
There are many jewellers that I admire. For example, Sigurd Bronger, Kim Buck, etc. However, I want to thank my tutors at the School of Jewellery the most. One of my tutors once told me: You have your whole life to make something beautiful, why not go crazy now. This root deeply inside me. It helps me to think outside the box.


Which piece or job gave you more satisfaction?
My favourite collection is always the one I am making in the process.
 

What is your source to get information?
I take inspiration from many things. It can be sculptures, 2D works or any others. Klimt02 is of course the best site to explore contemporary jewellery and to keep myself up to date. Additionally, I also go to exhibitions, or just simply go out for a walk, to see and to feel what is around me.
 

Considering the experiences you have had over the years - if you could go back and give yourself a piece of advice for the start-up phase, what would that be?
I would possibly go back and tell myself to ‘slow down’ a bit. Sometimes I found myself throwing into an idea too fast that it does not last long. I can be a bit impatient. Too often, I urge myself to finish a piece, which I should not. To create a piece of art can be a long process, repetition can be a way to explore deeper into a subject. And I want to embrace this quality.
 

Can you describe your personality in 3 words, describe your work in 3 words.
Personality: creative, shy and friendly.
Work: emotional, contemporary, expressive.