Immutable yet Flexible: Jewellery Box Paying Tribute to Chinese Thinking
The cabinet is a tribute to Kai-yin Lo's jewellery pieces, an attempt to continue her fruitful understanding of the Chinese way of thinking. There is an old Chinese saying “舉重若輕，奉輕若重，乃取物之道,” implying "lifting massiveness as if it is mobile and flexible, and picking up lightness as if it is weighty and centred. This is the principle of treating objects." The design feels casual and raw, but every detail has been thoroughly thought through. Jewellery is not only decorative objects to beautify our bodies — but they are also imbued with meaning as they are touched, carried, used and passed on to the next generation. When the team created this cabinet, they were making an object, designing an event, and creating a moment. The beauty of the object becomes meaningful when it shares an intimate relationship with its owner.
The four sides of the cuboid cabinet are covered by curtains made out of modular, laser-cut slates. They are held together by steel chains bound by 3D printed, moulded plastic caps. Behind the curtains, each side of the cuboid has a necklace stands made out of hot-rolled steel sheet. The stand could be rotated in 360 degrees, which would reveal another stand. Underneath the stands levels of rotating and recessed storage spaces designed for holding rings and earrings. The drawers could also store knick-knacks, such as treasured fountain pens or photographs. The storage spaces are made out of solid wood, including cherry, maple, teak, wenge and zebra. And there is a solid cherry wood base that supports the cabinet.
