Xiaoqing Liu focused on the relationship between solid and liquid. The texture, structure and colours of the opposite materials reflect a variety of moods, which is what Liu based her collection on.
Liu was inspired by these diverse matters in the world as they exist in every aspect of our day to day lives. In order to understand what they demonstrate to each individual it was important to explore their materiality.
To visually show the relationship and characteristics of solids and liquids, Liu alternated the direction of the lines from horizontal to vertical.
Liu would continue to shape and create aspects of the opposing materials by designing holes on the back to reduce the weight. All of the models were built by 3D printing with black materials and transparent resin.
Liu finished her undergraduate course in China, allowing her designs to tell a story about where she is from and the journey she has undertaken.
In ancient China people paint mountains and silver to express emotion. Artists would use a simple black ink to show rich texture, which would occasionally blur the qualities of the mountains and the rivers. These Chinese paintings gave Liu the feeling of fluidity when it came to her work.
Liu further enhanced the charactertics between solids and liquids in her designs by using white agate and blackened silver. She also applied the traditional kingfisher craft into jewellery design with the coloured feather of kingfisher, as well as snake skin and Lacquer Art into her final design work.
Throughout building her graduate collection, Liu developed a good sense of materiality, which allowed her to create her own unique signature style. She believes that transferring material’s personalities into jewellery language is a jeweller’s job.