Kerry Yichen Guan
MFA ’21 Metal Design
Kerry Yichen Guan is from Beijing, China. Her work involves intricate harmony between enamel and 3D printed objects that serve as a frame to each chapter of her perception of reincarnation. She believes art is very diverse and allows people to work and express themselves in many different ways. It gives people a chance to access cultures around the world and generate personal connections. People create their unique work of art that reflects individual personality, creativity and tells a story. Art is uncompromised, wild, beautiful, and a gateway to the history of humanity. Once she decided to step into this profession, she found a dream that almost immediately turned into a goal and later into a plan. Kerry wanted to cultivate a professional career that featured just one of those passions, so imagine her surprise when she discovered it was possible to combine them by pursuing a degree in Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design. As a result, she uses techniques and worked with metal to create projects with a personal narrative. Kerry Guan has always loved creating and making things by hand, such as rings, brooches, sculptures, and other types of art, and becomes a unique work of art. You can view more of Kerry’s work at kerryguan.com and connect via instagram @kkkkkerryyyyy.
Metempsychosis & Reincarnation
Thesis Abstract
A flower's beauty does not last forever; the leaves wilt, and the petals fall to the ground until next season when the cycle begins. The moment a flower blooms is the beginning moment it starts to fade away. Metempsychosis (reincarnation) has always interested me. This concept has helped me reduce the fear of death, giving me the strength to recognize that death is not a final destination because our lives are going to repeat in another modality. The impetus for this body of work comes from noticing Chinese social and political events repeating themselves throughout history. My thesis exhibition consists of a series of small-scaled enameled wearable artworks. The imagery I create with flowers falls into three different categories: seeding, blooming, and decaying. These flowers illustrate the concept of reincarnation: birth, growth, death, and returning to be reborn. The flower represents Chinese history and political protests; its life cycle is used to discuss this history, with hopes for a progressive future.
Cycle, 2020
Cloisonne enamel, SLA, Sterling silver
5” H x 5” W x 5” D
Life Cycle, 2020
Cloisonne enamel, SLA, Sterling silver
6” H x 5” W x 5” D
Repeating, 2020
Cloisonne enamel, SLA, Sterling silver
6” H x 5” W x 5” D
“404 Not Found No.1”, 2020
Brooch, view of front and back
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
2” H x 2” W x 0.3” D
“404 Not Found No.2”, 2020
Brooch
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
2” H x 3” W x 0.2” D
“404 Not Found No.3”, 2020
Brooch
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
2” H x 2” W x 0.3” D
“404 Not Found No.4”, 2020
Brooch
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
2” H x 2” W x 0.5” D
“404 Not Found No.5”, 2020
Brooch
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
2.5” H x 1.5” W x 0.3” D
“404 Not Found No.6”, 2020
Brooch
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
1.5” H x 3” W x 0.3” D
“404 Not Found No.7”, 2020
Brooch
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
2.25” H x 1.5” W x 0.2” D
“404 Not Found No.8”, 2020
Brooch
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
2.25” H x 1.5” W x 0.2” D
“404 Not Found No.9”, 2020
Brooch
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
2” H x 1.5” W x 0.3” D
“404 Not Found No.10”, 2020
Brooch
copper, silver foil, fine silver, sterling silver, stainless steel
2” H x 2” W x 0.5” D
Thesis Committee
Tim Lazure, MFA
Mi-Sook Hur, MFA
Lisa Beth Robinson, MFA
