Tala Yuan
Tala Yuan is a contemporary jewellery artist living and working in China. By creating work based on her reflections of life, examination of culture and pursuit of mental grounds, she reviews her understanding of the Chinese culture, while searching for her own identity.
If you had access to all the powers, how would you improve the world?
I want to start from myself and practice an environmentally friendly and simple lifestyle.
What are the biggest sustainability challenges in your work and how are you addressing them?
In my work, I chose the natural material gourd. It is completely natural and will not pollute the environment. But the biggest challenge is how to make it more durable? I’m looking for a solution，it’s still in the experimental stage.
Which conscious lifestyle choices are you making? And are you considering any new ones?
I am consciously choosing a simple and environmentally friendly life and considering a minimalist life in the future.
What have you rebelled against in the past, and what are you rebelling against now?
In fact the word rethinking would be more precise. I constantly rethink my ways of creating. I’ve been trying to create a free state of mind in order to remove my borders.
Do you think tableware can still be improved? If yes, in what way?
Of course, the development of tableware has a close relationship with eating habits and food culture. The differences of the culinary culture are my creative starting point. These differences shape new possibilities for eating experiences.
What was the inspiration for your Steinbeisser pieces?
My first idea was to use only natural materials. The pieces were meant to be light in transportation, practical for use and aesthetically beautiful.
Describe your work in 3 words!
Organic. Natural. Smooth.
What kind of materials do you use and where do you get them from?
I collect all kinds of materials in my daily life. I find materials at my local market, I buy them online, I receive them as gifts from my friends, and I harvest them in nature.
What has been your favorite dinner experience?
I was alone at my favorite vegetarian restaurant Green Vega, slowly tasting a bowl of rice noodles soup, that uses all the freshest vegetables and soy products with the least amount of spices and oil, and the simplest cooking methods. The food tasted so incredibly good.
What excites you about tomorrow?
I am excited to experiment with my new jewellery and cutlery pieces, I have had some very inspiring dreams.
Which are your 3 favorite pieces on Jouw…?
My 3 favorite pieces are the Closest Plates by Selen Ozus, the Typewriter Spoon by Stuart Cairns and the Gold Caliper Knife by Nils Hint.