“Design has no boundary, art comes from life. It starts from the nature, and is duly created from your heart,” Hong Kong designer Cally Lam states in her online shop, summarising her perception of art.
Prior to entering the jewellery industry, Lam was a computer programmer and an interior designer. Gifted in Chinese painting, Lam has exhibited in the UK and sold her works to collectors. Finding her true passion in jewellery, she became a Fellow member of the Gemmological Association of Britain and started designing jewellery 10 years ago. She established her own bespoke jewellery brand L’Cally Jewel in 2011.
Analogous to her fluid career development, her jewellery creation is not fixated on any framework or style but is solely directed by her intuition and the characteristics of the materials. Contrary to the current trend of statement jewellery, her designs are strikingly delicate. Every piece of her jewellery demands close observation and appreciation before its deeper meanings can be understood. “It is crucial that I can express my view and introduce positive influence to my customers. The wearer should feel comfortable and be able to connect with the piece, which in turn should speak to the wearer,” she told Hong Kong Jewellery.
Having spent her teenage years in the UK during the 1980s and witnessed discrimination against Chinese in the West, Lam has been reflecting on Chinese culture and history from a young age. She hopes to deliver a positive message to society and promote the merits of Chinese culture through her jewellery pieces. Her signature collection Meditation was inspired by Bodhidharma’s meditative posture in an attempt to communicate peacefulness in the mind and self-reflection. Like the ancient Chinese literati, Lam is deeply attracted to and inspired by nature. For instance, her award-winning earrings Listening to Nature Voice were created after her visit to Hua Shan. Elements of the landscape such as Chinese white pine, steep rock face and misty clouds were incorporated into the piece to recreate the ephemeral beauty of the rainy spring season in the region in a style that resembles Chinese paintings. Another award winning work Morning Star is the designer’s interpretation of the distant milky way in the form of sparkling stars on the wearer’s wrist. Going through her collections you will understand that it is the aura and vitality of nature instead of the physical form alone that her designs aim to capture.
The pursuit of an alternative vision, however, is not without obstacles. Lam frankly says she does not give the market much consideration when designing, which means that her road will be more difficult. “It is not easy to survive in Hong Kong. If you are too artistic and alternative your business could hardly survive. However you don’t want to lose your voice as a designer. Therefore you must achieve a fine balance. Most importantly you should never forget the original idea that motivates your creativity in the first place.” In the future she plans to create a new collection with jadeite. At the same time she will experiment with sandalwood by carving it into pendants and rings as part of her relentless pursuit of innovation.
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