In the world of fashion nowadays, jewelry is no longer just about shiny metals and stones. Jewelry artists are redefining the boundaries of style and sustainability. Suyu Chen, an international known artist, professional jeweler and experienced art educator, whose creations are characterized by minimalism and uniqueness, boldly reinventing jewelry using upcycled materials.
Suyu has established herself as a contemporary jewelry designer throughout her decade-long career. Her art journey started with a strong love for everyday objects. After earning her MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology, she aimed to turn common materials into impressive fashion expressions. Her ideas soon caught the attention of people around the world, and the works have been exhibited internationally at leading galleries, institutions and events, including New York City Jewelry Week, the 46th Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Brussels Jewelry Week, the Beijing International Art Jewellery Exhibition, the Baltimore Jewelry Center, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Currently, she teaches at Rochester Institute of Technology and also practices as a professional artist and jeweler. Her years of crafting and designing jewelry have allowed her to create work that blurs the distinction between handmade and mass-produced, traditional and contemporary crafts. She shares in her artist statement: ‘Each creation tells a story of reinvention, urging us to see the beauty in the unexpected and foster a dialogue that transcends traditional craft boundaries.’
Industrial plastic products, such as PVC pipe, are usually tucked away in the corners of hardware stores, destined for ordinary home projects. In the collection, A Study of Snow, which was exhibited solo in Galleria Riutta at Taidekeskus Itä, Lappeenranta, Finland, these PVC pipes are reborn as sleek and lightweight jewelry components through fabrication, bending, and bonding processes with hand saw, heat tool and resin. The styling of these pieces is inspired by snow-covered man-made objects in the winter. In order to transform the plastic jewelry from industrial to a modern chic, Suyu adds hand-formed sterling silver components, such as chains and clasps, and customizes parts to the wearer's preference. The combination of silver and PVC creates a harmonious contrast that highlights the aesthetic of the re-used material. After Finland, the collection also had been travelled and showcased on various platforms, including the Beijing International Art Jewellery Exhibition-Li Xing, and the Dream Machine Group Exhibition at New York City Jewelry Week.
Photo credit: Jiageng Lin
Influenced by East Asian philosophical thoughts, she believes in the infinite transformations of every form and materials. Her work practices minimalism through form variation and celebrates the raw materials themselves, where every curve, line, and stroke of color is intentional. Under her skillful hands, each piece holds a unique narrative about modern mass production as well as the environmental issues. The journey Suyu has taken in the realm of repurposed jewelry is a powerful statement of creativity, sustainability, and individual expression. These accessories go beyond simple jewelry; they are works of art that invite you to rethink norms as well.
