Breaking the Cage and Blooming Flowers
Growing up in Macau and studying in Beijing and London, Liu Xinjue's diverse cultural background has given her a design perspective that embraces all things. As the first student of the Creative 100 and founder of the SANCHIALAU brand, young artist Liu Xinjue excels in using a female eye to awaken Eastern aesthetics through modern design, interpreting freedom and power.
Liu Xinjue brought four works to this Creative 100 exhibition. In the "Welcoming Spring Flower Series - Blessing to Spring Return", she uses delicate brushstrokes to depict the hope of spring, and pearls and copper coins carry the wishes of wealth and auspiciousness. And 'Dream of Flowers and Treasures' traces back to the decorative arts movement of the late 19th century, where each flower was adorned with pearls and emitted a soft Pastel hue. These flowers seem to bloom from Monet's lotus pond, while incorporating a modern sense of lightness, allowing viewers to feel the blending and dialogue of the times. Macau was formerly known as "Haojing Macau", named after the winding oyster bay and abundant pearl oysters. Pearl farming and trade were important industries in Macau's early days. Therefore, both sets of works use "pearls" as an anchor point to connect the three dimensions of Macau culture, decorative arts, and identity.
The "Dress Sculpture Handbag" series is one of Liu Xinjue's most representative works. The work is inspired by women's dresses and metaphorically refers to the secular constraints that women face in social life, such as the cage of birds. The artist hopes that women can break through the shackles of the secular world and showcase the most authentic and confident female power. In addition, Liu Xinjue also brought her work "Indian Patterns - Ancient Shu Inspiration Limited Edition" created for the 2025 Osaka World Expo. This series is inspired by the ancient Shu civilization in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, extracting cloud and thunder patterns and animal face patterns formed by the layered casting process of bronze ware, replicating the aesthetic of the three-layer nine branch structure of the bronze divine tree, and abstracting the divine bird pattern into flowing lines. By combining archaeological elements with modern design language, reinterpret the philosophical concept of the ancient Shu ancestors' 'connection between heaven and humanity'.
From Macau to the world, from tradition to contemporary times, Liu Xinjue uses design to express: the spirit of women is not only a pearl like and warm perseverance, but also the courage to break through the birdcage. In the culturally blended Macau, she is allowing the beauty of the East to grow freely.
About: Creative Youth Speaks
The Cultural Heritage and Creative Industry Research Institute of Jinan University has launched a video program called "Creative Youth Talks", which will officially open in 2025. Through the first perspective of designers and inheritors, this article explores the cultural context and creative thinking behind the work, and explores the transformation path of traditional craftsmanship in contemporary contexts. Welcome to the "folk art heritage" official account for subscription. More exciting content is being updated continuously.
