An honest depiction of emotion

Caiyang is a contemporary jewellery and accessory maker
He works primarily with metals such as silver and stainless steel
His artistic style blends sculptural aesthetics and playfulness

Glasgow School of Art PhD candidate Caiyang Yin specialises in making jewellery using techniques called chasing and repoussé. Although influenced by these traditional Chinese metalworking techniques, his works reflect several artistic styles, including Taoist minimalism, Western minimalism, and modern anatomical knowledge. "I was trained to make realistic drawings since I was a child, and do this when necessary to help me clearly define a figure I wish to work on in silver," he explains. Caiyang taught himself digital sculpting during COVID, which allows him to keep a dynamic visual reference of his sculpture as he makes it, particularly for more complex, high-relief pieces. His work often depicts figures and faces, set against void backgrounds which emphasise the silhouettes, features and expressions. "I view contemporary jewellery as a material manifestation of people's emotions and attitudes. As such, I want it to provoke thoughts, evoke emotions, and in some cases, cause necessary discomfort," explains Caiyang.

Caiyang Yin is a master artisan: he began his career in 2011 and he started teaching in 2018

Discover his work

Discover his work

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Elements of power

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INTERVIEW

I wanted to be an artist since I was little. I practised fine arts as a hobby, but never had the chance to work with metal. I chose jewellery and silversmithing at university because it seemed challenging and unfamiliar. In the beginning, I was not very passionate about it, but gradually it grew on me. As I experienced the joy of achievement every time I finished something in metal, it became addictive and is now my way of expressing myself creatively.

I think metal is a rather honest material to work with. It reflects the practitioner’s attitude towards it explicitly and boldly. My appreciation for its materiality is also a vital motivation to pursue it as my profession.

I rarely restrict the origin of my inspiration – it could be anything. I am currently paying more attention to certain social issues and people’s mindset about them, as I believe contemporary jewellery can be a good channel for communicating ideas, emotions and attitudes. The exchange of ideas between the audience and myself can open new dimensions of artistic dialogues, which is what I enjoy as a part of my creative practice.

Chasing and repoussé have a history of over 2000 years in China. That is where I taught myself the techniques, starting in 2016. While I never tried creating traditional Chinese subjects such as mythical animals and Buddhist-related figures, those works still influence my own work, especially in the vivid facial expressions of the characters and how they are presented.