Kexin (Kristy) Wen

About

Kexin Wen is a contemporary art jeweller and artist from Shenzhen, China. She is interested in exploring the relationship between wearable or craft objects and the human body. After completing a BA in Material Art and Design at Ontario College of Art and Design University, she decided to pursue an MA degree at the Royal College of Art to further develop her theme of the body by using the visual language of jewellery and metal.

In her exploration of the relationship between jewellery and the body, she has found the symbol of water resonates deeply with her artistic vision. She is now engaged in ongoing research on the dynamics between the body, space, and human interaction. Her artistic journey is driven by her desire to master traditional metalsmithing techniques while infusing them with contemporary aesthetics, thereby expressing her passion for this intricate art form.

Kexin’s work delves into the profound act of sensing, an intuitive process of realizing something while not knowing and not thinking. Her Sensing Reverie series embodies this process, encouraging an immersive engagement that bridges the gap between the body and space. Through multi-sensory experience, her pieces invite viewers to explore the fluid boundaries of space, revealing how bodily forms can represent space that unfolds within the body, around the private realm, and in collective environments.

The materiality of her work is crucial to its sensory impact. Through diligent hand-forging and material exploration, she has discovered a compelling combination of silicone and copper. These materials, chosen for their unique properties, are shaped into vessel forms designed to contain real water. This combination, as well as the integration of water, suggests the skin and the body, creating a visceral connection to the human body. They are not just representations but extensions of the body itself, blurring the lines between object and organism.

Each piece in the Sensing Reverie series is an intimate reflection of her artistic journey. The process of crafting these works is similar to a dialogue with her own body, where the tactile and sensory qualities of the materials guide the creation. By engaging with these pieces, she hopes to offer viewers a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of body, space, and sensation, encouraging a renewed awareness of the world through the act of sensing.