Midnight Tide Umukufi by Elinn Yi Fang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza in Igishushanyo cy'Amasaro Competition Category.

IfezaAmasaro· 2023

Midnight Tide Umukufi

by Elinn Yi Fang

Client: Bijoux d'Elinn

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza Winner in Amasaro Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Midnight Tide Umukufi

Midnight Tide ni umukufi ukozwe muri zahabu yera ya 18ct hamwe na diyama zashyizwemo. Uyu mukufi ugizwe n'ibice 79 byakozwe kimwe kimwe, buri kimwe cyacurishijwe kugira ngo gikore umurimo wihariye kandi cyahawe ishusho ishingiye ku magufwa y'umuntu. Ibi bice bihuzwa hakoreshejwe uburyo bwihariye bwo guhuza bwatewe inkunga n'imitsi ihuza ingingo z'umubiri, bituma habaho gukomera kugenzuwe n'ukugenda kworoshye. Buri gice cyabanje gukorwaho igerageza, gishyirwa hamwe kandi kigacurwa bundi bushya hakoreshejwe uburyo nyabwo bwo kunoza, naho aho bihurira hakanozwa n'intoki. Ishusho ivamo yibutsa imigendekere y'imiraba y'inyanja hejuru y'urutugu.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza

Midnight Tide Umukufi ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Ifeza, ishimwe ridasanzwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo byo ku rwego rwo hejuru, byiza kandi bikora ku mutima. Abegukanye Ifeza ni ibihangano by'ubuhanga bukomeye kandi bifite guhanga kwinshi, bigaragaza ubuhanga bwimbitse, impano n'ubushishozi bw'ababihanze. Midnight Tide Umukufi biteganyijwe ko izaba igihangano cy'icyitegererezo, gifite ubunyamwuga bukomeye n'udushya twimbitse. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Ifeza ni igihangano kizwi kandi gishimwa, gifasha kugura imbibi z'ubuhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga. Midnight Tide Umukufi ni igihangano benshi bifuza, gikangura ibyifuzo, gitanga amarangamutima meza kandi gitera igitangaza.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: To realize the artistic vision, the neckpiece consists of 79 meticulously modeled units, each cast to fulfill specific functions, resembling the distinctive shapes of human bones. Inspired by body ligaments, these units interconnect through an original linkage mechanism that delivers curated tension and choreographed movement. The combination engineers a textural unity that is simultaneously resilient and agile.
Dimensions & Packaging: 125mm x 3mm x 195mm
Tags: Bespoke jewellery, Necklace, Diamond neckpiece, Exquisite craftsmanship, Serenity, Artistic expression
Production Technology: Diamond inlaid 18ct White Gold, individually modelled and cast with 3D printing techniques that interconnect through an original linkage mechanism. Relentless trial and error and countless prototyping culminated in the final engineering of the structure.
Design Challenge: In order to achieve visual harmony and convey the intended artistic vision, the neckpiece required specific qualities in terms of texture, color, and reflection. The desired movement is achieved by meticulously crafting each individual unit with subtle variations. This involved a precise and laborious process of manipulating the hardened 18ct Gold wires in order to control the angle, direction, and extent of joint movements, similar to the way ligaments function in the human body. The goal was to attain a universal balance across all units and joints, which required significant effort and attention to detail.
Research: Visual qualities: Inspired by oceanic movements and tidal imageries, artist made pencil studies and observations that progressed seamlessly from figurative sketching to the finalized abstract form.
Engineering: The adult human body comprises 206 individual bones, each with a unique shape and function in facilitating movement. The engineering of this neckpiece is influenced by the anatomical structure of body joints.
Inspiration: The neckpiece crystallizes the inner serenity to which the artist is drawn. The piece is reminiscent of the frothy ebbs of midnight tides, draping effortlessly over one's shoulder: mimicking the fluidity of a wave caressing down the coastline, imbuing the pulse of the ocean into the wearer's very being.
Project Duration: Starting April 2022 during the 2 month city-wide lockdown in Shanghai, and finished in January 2023, Shanghai.
Operation Flow: The design process originated from the shaping of the piece that was completed within one sitting. The artist then came up with different structures to combine and separate the materials in order to achieve the fluidity and strength of the shaping. Each unit was prototyped, assembled, and recast with precise adjustment. After more than 10 types of structural redesign and finishing, the joint movements were individually fine-tuned by hands to enable desired movements multi-dimensionally.
Team Members: Elinn Fang
Image Credits: Image No.1-5: Mo Zhou
Video: Lin Zhu
Copyrighting: Simone Zhang