Taiwanese jewelry craftsman Chen Zhiquan, also known as Chen, recently launched his art exhibition “Eternal Garden” at the Bowers Museum in Southern California. The exhibition will run until April 13, 2025. These exhibits are not just exquisite jewelry pieces; they are also the artist’s unique interpretations of life, nature, and art. Chen Zhiquan aims to help viewers understand that art can transcend borders and time, showing that even tough titanium can bloom into delicate flowers, resonating with the passage of time and life experiences.
Chen Zhiquan, who was involved in the jewelry business early in his career, used to shuttle between major cities and mines. He found that material wealth could not fill the emptiness in his heart. He began to reflect on the meaning of life, shifted his focus inward, and integrated meditation into jewelry craftsmanship, hoping to create works that surpass trends and possess eternal value.
Through long periods of introspective meditation, Chen Zhiquan discovered that every flower, tree, bird, and insect in nature is a separate universe, each containing infinite vitality and showcasing the resilience and beauty of life. He transformed this insight into creative inspiration, choosing titanium as his “canvas,” overcoming technical challenges of high hardness and melting points, and using gemstones to portray vibrant worlds.
“The characteristics of titanium are very unique, requiring extremely refined craftsmanship to showcase intricate textures,” said Chen Zhiquan. “Each piece is the result of my hard work, and I hope to share my insights on life with viewers through these works.”
The piece “Eternal Garden” represents Chen Zhiquan’s profound contemplation of the lifecycle. He incorporates the blooming and withering of flowers, along with the sounds of birds and insects in the garden into his work. For him, the process of creation is “like cultivating,” as he desires viewers to feel the energy of life through his art.
Chen Zhiquan’s works not only exude Zen sentiments but also incorporate modern technology. At the exhibition, visitors can admire the intricate details of the pieces up close through high-resolution display screens.
Chen Zhiquan believes that technology can expand artistic expression. He hopes his works can transcend time and space, resonate with more people, and continue to explore the possibilities of titanium. Concurrently, he aims to cultivate more young artists and promote Taiwan’s jewelry craftsmanship on the global stage.