Throughout Lanjun Li’s study of jewellery design, they have been committed to exploring new materials and challenging the conceptions of what jewellery can be. Li is willing to use almost anything including found materials to create a piece believing that all things mother nature has given us, and all artificial materials, have the potential to be art and jewellery. Li uses this found material mindset to inspire people to consider the environmental challenges our world faces whilst challenging preconceptions around what is aesthetically beautiful.
The raw materials used in this exhibition are rubbish collected from bins across the city such as used tea-bags, plastic bags and used tissues. After numerous experiments Li blended the found waste with the essence of their design, making presentable pieces which embody a feeling of quality that can be viewed as jewellery. Through this process, Li asks us to reconsider our ideas around waste, giving waste products a second chance in our society.