Description
New Panacea: Doomsday Kit is a series of jewelry pieces which draw on the historical functions of jewelry and the deep traditions of Chinese medicine. The works are based on an experience of personal exploration and emotional healing. Moving to the US after an education in China, I learned the importance of exploring my inner world. Through my work, I long to piece together a complete self from my past and understand what has led me to today. As a jewelry artist, my personal struggle with depression and anxiety has motivated me to think about how jewelry has been historically used to help people deal with psychological distress. I aspire to present my audience with works that can be used as a meditative medium; a type of wearable, portable emotional support device. Through studying the long and broad histories of both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and traditional jewelry, I discovered an amazing coincidence in their materials. This thesis mainly discusses the combination of Guizhou Miao silver filigree crafts and traditional Chinese medicinal materials, and demonstrates how my works are committed to creating a wearable emotional tool that can help the wearer relieve stress and regulate emotions to achieve emotional health and wellbeing. This thesis therefore unfolds in five sections. Following an introduction, the second section lists the most significant influences to my work: two of my favorite artists, Jennifer Trask and Robert Baines, the ethnic craft of Miao silver filigree, and my personal growth experience and childhood environment; and discusses how these factors have influenced my work. The third section discusses the development of this project. The fourth section explores the materials, choices, and spiritual influences used in my works. The final section exhibits my works and their illustrations. My work explores antifragility by incorporating TCM and delicate silver filigree in the intimate format of jewelry. I tested the effect of this work by showing it to peers from different cultures, and through the format of jewelry created an opportunity for personal connection in my exhibition, ‘New Panacea: Doomsday Kit’.
