On December 13, 2017, the highly anticipated "Opening the Window to the Splendors of the World " Jewellery art exhibition, hosted by Phoenix Art and the high-end Oriental Jewellery brand CHARLENE, was unveiled at The Palace Museum. The exhibition was curated by renowned artist Bingchuan Leng, who has resided in Spain for many years.
CHARLENE Jewellery art exhibition site
The Imperial Palace, home to countless treasures of Chinese civilization, houses an array of exquisite fans that encapsulate the cultural forms and spiritual qualities of the nation, conveying clear artistic aesthetics and emotional expression.
The Imperial Palace Fan Collection not only preserves the essence of literati culture but also represents the second wave of oriental aesthetics transcending borders and reaching worldwide recognition.
This exhibition primarily focuses on the seamless fusion of traditional Chinese art with contemporary aesthetic trends, perfectly interpreting CHARLENE’s concept of " Oriental aesthetics in 1cm²."
Jewellery pieces at the exhibition, complemented by floral art, perfectly embody the "literati culture."
This exhibition is based on the exquisite folding fans preserved in the Imperial Palace, designed to create an exceptional collection of Jewellery and delves into the most iconic cultural essence found within the Imperial Palace. These pieces are exhibited in the Palace Museum, a place known for its literary atmosphere, to promote and disseminate this collection worldwide.
The founder and CEO of CHARLENE, Ms. Charlene (Xiaoling) Li, who was invited by the Palace Museum and Phoenix to design a jewellery collection after the Imperial Palace and has her brand jewellery exhibited at the Palace Museum, has an extraordinary life story.
Charlene Li, founder and CEO of CHARLENE, and UNIPX MEDIA
At the age of just over 30 and with a mere five years of experience in the jewellery industry, this remarkable woman has been personally chosen by the "Emperor" to become a jewellery designer. Prior to entering the jewellery industry, she obtained a finance degree from Peking University. This seemingly flawless young lady had already achieved an annual salary in the millions of yuan and held a position as joint director by the age of 25, within just two years. During her tenure in foreign investment banking, she oversaw transactions worth billions of yuan each year, perfectly embodying the image of a "financial elite."
Despite enjoying such a comfortable life, Charlene, who was in her fourth year at work and had just welcomed her second child, wasn't content with the status quo. While motherhood brought her spiritual relaxation and fulfillment, the monotonous routine of daily work began to frustrate her.
Driven by her desire for change, this elegant, independent, and tasteful modern woman made a bold decision to redefine her life. With unwavering determination, she left behind her enviable job and wholeheartedly embraced the captivating world of the jewellery industry.
Prior to the commencement of the "Opening the Window to the Splendors of the World" jewellery exhibition, UNIPX MEDIA had the opportunity to interview Charlene, who embodies both beauty and wisdom with a graceful and composed demeanor, after countless efforts behind the scenes.
The Imperial Palace Fan Landscape Earrings
The Imperial Palace Fan Landscape Open Ring
The Imperial Palace Collection Plum Blossom Earrings
The Imperial Palace Collection Plum Blossom Earrings
UNIPX Media: What is the special significance for CHARLENE to hold an exhibition in the Imperial Palace this time?
Charlene: The Imperial Palace houses over 1.8 million precious cultural treasures representing Chinese culture, which stands as the pinnacle of national art. Being able to gain recognition from the Imperial Palace and hold an exclusive exhibition for our brand jewellery within its premises, signifies immense support and encouragement for CHARLENE. We will draw endless inspiration from this opportunity and continue to use jewellery to inherit and promote the magnificent and splendid culture of the East.
“Opening the Window to the Splendors of the World” - Taking the fan as its body, imbuing meaning into its form.
The jewellery showcased in this exhibition takes inspiration from the fan collection of the Imperial Palace. With the concept of "taking the fan as its body, imbuing meaning into its form", it is divided into two main themes: "Fan" and "Phoenix". With both realistic and abstract elements, it showcases the rich and diverse aspects of Oriental culture. The timeless and poetic essence contained within the fan is expressed through contemporary artistic forms, creating a harmonious blend of beauty from ancient to modern times.
UNIPX Media: The jewellery showcased in this exhibition draws inspiration from the folding fans and feather fans in the collection of the Imperial Palace. Is using such "national treasure level" artifacts as a template a kind of pressure, or does it spark more inspiration, leading to the design of more profound works?
Charlene Li: CHARLENE has been established for just five years. When we were commissioned to design themed jewellery for the Imperial Palace, we did feel the pressure. After all, we aim to use jewellery to depict the essence of our nation's culture. However, the vast and splendid nature of Chinese culture also gives us tremendous confidence and strength. It provides us with endless inspiration for design. The process of creation is a process of deepening our understanding. Therefore, we will gain a profound appreciation and love for ourselves, our nation, and the entire Chinese culture, all of which will be manifested through our jewellery.
Our design is divided into two parts. In the first part, we take the overall shape of the fan and create fan-shaped jewellery inspired by the Imperial Palace, naming it "The Imperial Palace Fan" collection. The term not only refers to the elegance of the fan but also carries the meaning of Confucian virtues such as "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust" as well as the beauty of poetry and music in Chinese culture. In the second part, we capture the beauty of the painted scenery within the fan and its dynamic form, naming it "The Imperial Palace Phoenix" collection. The feather fan has long been known to people and the feather screen represents the ancient elegance and charm of the fan. The phrases "holding a white feather fan" and "dancing lightly behind a painted screen" evoke the vivid imagery associated with the fan, which carries the profound verses of the past.
UNIPX Media: In addition to the designs inspired by the folding fans and feather fans of the Imperial Palace, this collection has also given rise to a series of designs such as "The Imperial Palace Song Collection." What sets apart this series of works and what kind of spirit do they embody?
The Imperial Palace Song Collection
Charlene: The Imperial Palace Song Collection is a derivative of The Imperial Palace high jewellery collection. Its inspiration comes from a line in Wei Wang 's poem: "The bright moon shines among the pines, while a clear stream flows over the stones." We believe that the promotion and dissemination of Chinese culture should not only inherit its traditional beauty but also integrate it into modern aesthetics and contemporary life. It is about transforming the artistic beauty of Chinese culture into more fashionable and refreshing forms that are closer to our lifestyles and contemporary interpretations. Therefore, the design of "The Imperial Palace Song" is highly suitable for the everyday fashion scenes of modern women.
In addition, we have also incorporated the symmetrical beauty of Chinese Tai Chi. The design of this collection is aesthetically pleasing in both forward and reverse-wearing styles. The earrings in this collection will be sold individually, allowing everyone to freely mix and match them according to their preferences.
The Imperial Palace Phoenix Brooch
The Imperial Palace Phoenix Finger Ring
Jewellery is the crystallization of human wisdom. It draws inspiration from nature and is designed for human society. The Imperial Palace and its precious treasures are outstanding contributions to Chinese civilization throughout history. In this exhibition, CHARLENE and its founder Charlene Li, as an outstanding representative of modern independent women, have taken on an important role, which can be said to be a perfect combination of "heaven, earth, and humanity."
UNIPX Media: It is truly fascinating to design and craft jewellery in the shape of a fan, especially when paired with poetry, which makes it even more "exquisite". What kind of message do you intend to convey to the exhibition visitors through this exhibition?
Charlene: The visual beauty presented by jewellery and the rhythmic imagination of poetry share a similar artistic effect. Both are wonderful expressions and inheritances of traditional culture. Through this exhibition, I hope to provide everyone with a more intuitive understanding of Oriental culture, a more aesthetic imagination, and a broader scope of inheritance.
UNIPX Media: The Imperial Palace is a royal palace in China that serves as an important window for China to showcase its culture to the world. During the exhibition, there will be many visitors from around the world coming to this place. What kind of experience do you hope to offer the world through this exhibition?
Charlene: We warmly welcome visitors from all over the world to join us in appreciating the enchanting charm of Chinese traditional culture. I am confident that they will enjoy these jewellery pieces imbued with the essence of the East, through which they will also experience the essence and quintessence of Oriental culture that is otherwise difficult to understand in daily life. This exhibition will be an excellent occasion for them to delve deeper into understanding Oriental aesthetics.
UNIPX Media: Your brand is a young but internationally renowned brand. Today, CHARLENE has taken root in Chinese culture and is exhibiting its works on an international stage. What are your expectations for the brand and Chinese culture in the future?
Charlene: Chinese designs created by Chinese people should not be limited to superficial Chinese symbols. Instead, they should express the essence that resides within us. I am particularly looking forward to seeing this cultural confidence, where we don't necessarily have to rely on cheongsams or dragon-phoenix motifs to represent the country. Chinese culture has such rich connotations. We can break away from conventional forms and challenge the predefined image imposed on us by the West. We can embrace a more international approach while staying true to the core values of our culture, such as benevolence, righteousness, and elegance.
We hope and firmly believe that CHARLENE can stand on the international stage, representing a new generation of Chinese jewellery brands and reshaping China's image in the world. Our generation can surely achieve this.
The Imperial Palace Phoenix Earrings
Feather Fan · Raindrops Brooch
CHARLENE CLASSIC is like a precious gem that embraces the wonders of the world. It is not obsequious or ostentatious. Charlene Li is a gentle mother to three children, an exemplary figure in the workplace, and a high-minded soul who is willing to make sacrifices for her ideals. The Imperial Palace serves as a magnificent vessel for Chinese civilization, nurturing and preserving numerous invaluable treasures. This embodies the extraordinary craftsmanship and signifies why culture and art have the power to traverse the world.
Exhibition Schedule
December 13, 2017
Opening Exhibition, Palace Museum
Dec. 2017-Jan. 2018
China Tour: Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing
Apr. – Jun. 2018
Global Tour: Basel, Switzerland, New York, USA, Antwerp, Belgium.
△Producer: Qin Yitong
△Written by: Tian Yazhu (A Lan)
△Pictures/Materials: CHARLENE CLASSIC
△Interview: Zhang Xinyue
△Photography: Ann Du
△Editor: Rusu Kong
UNIPX Media (UNIPX.COM), originated in New York, is the most valuable new media platform for Euro-American popular culture. It is the official partner of New York Fashion Week and covers a wide range of topics including fashion week, celebrity fashion, film and entertainment, gaming and anime, luxury cars and luxury goods, and lifestyle.
