Rising Stars: Meet Stina Wen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stina Wen.

Hi Stina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I learned traditional metalsmithing during my undergraduate studies, but I also enjoy exploring alternative materials that enrich my creative process. During my graduate studies, I primarily worked with concrete and even invented my own material—soft concrete. 

Guangzhou, the city where I grew up, is known as both the “Concrete Jungle” and the “Flower City.” Growing up in this urban environment, where the natural and industrial worlds coexist harmoniously, gave me a unique perspective. I was deeply inspired by this contrast, and I like to combine elements that usually seem opposite or conflicting. 

To me, concrete is not just an austere and bland material but a flexible and shapable one. I manipulate it in my own way to challenge its perceived hardness, tactility, and transparency. The transformation of material from coarse to soft piques the curiosity of viewers, inviting them to see and touch my jewelry. I strive to enhance the visual and tactile qualities of jewelry through contrasting colors and alternative materials to convey serendipity. As a child, I used touch to explore the world around me, and with my jewelry, I hope to evoke that same sense of curiosity by encouraging intuitive touch. This ultimately fosters dynamic interactions between the wearer and the viewer, both visually and tactilely. Each piece harbors its own unexpected surprise, which the audience discovers once they interact with it. 

Besides being a contemporary jewelry artist, my passion also extends to fine jewelry. After graduation, I moved to New York to pursue my dream and now work as a custom jewelry designer. Designing fine jewelry is different from being a contemporary artist, as it requires not just a focus on self-expression but also the creation of one-of-a-kind pieces that fulfill a client’s request. Whenever clients wear the jewelry I designed during their significant events, such as weddings, I also feel an unexpected sense of surprise. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to success is often tortuous. Luckily, serendipity plays an important role in my jewelry practice because it always occurs in my material exploration and working process. It has happened in numerous materials, but through using concrete, one of the materials I explored, I saw a direct correlation between material and serendipity. As a jeweler who works through materials to express concept, the material does not always move in the direction I want, so I occasionally become stuck. Serendipity steps in to show me the new direction and offers a breakthrough, where I can leave the comfort zone of the previous work and move to the next stage. If I didn’t accidentally drop the silicon into the concrete sample, I might not be able to start inventing the soft concrete jewelry. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I was proud of the soft concrete material I invented. 

At first, I created concrete jewelry that is hard but looks soft in fabric form. As my experimentation continued, I found less interest in making it only look soft and wanted to further challenge this material. Then, I created a questionnaire and asked people what they think about concrete. Most people think concrete is rough, grey, austere, and heavy, so I decided to make it the opposite way. I questioned myself: is it possible to make my concrete soft, colorful, and transparent? 

After almost two years of experimentation, I invented this unique material that no one has done before. I successfully made it colorful, soft, and even transparent! 

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The pandemic has significantly impacted me, although not necessarily negatively. Due to the pandemic, the studio closed, prompting me to relocate everything to my home. This change in environment has inevitably altered my creative process. For instance, with less access of the soldering and casting tool or machines, I gradually shifted towards experimenting with non-metallic alternative materials. This transition played an important role in my creative practice to invent soft concrete. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stinajewelry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stina_jewelry_studio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stina-wen-97967583/