On the streets of Huaihai Road in Shanghai, if you pay attention to the shops on the street, a gear art installation full of artistic elegance and modern visual effects will always attract many passers-by to stop and watch. The installation is called “Greatness of Human” and is a design made by artist Jujuwang for the first global flagship store of the famous Nordic and Danish shoe brand ECCO. The store has opened at No. 823 Huaihai Middle Road, Shanghai on April 16, 2021. Officially opened.
ECCO global flagship store
In order to add a more distant aesthetic imagination to the entire space, ECCO invited Jujuwang, an installation artist who is good at extracting creative inspiration from traditional culture and nature, and combining it with contemporary art methods to create the flagship store decoration . “” as the theme , two art installations were created, namely the leather art dynamic installation Greatness of Nature located next to the display window and the gear art installation Greatness of Human located in the central area of the flagship store that runs through the two-story space.
Leather Art Dynamic Installation Greatness of Nature Panorama
Panorama of the gear art installation Greatness of Human
To this end, N+ chatted with artist Jujuwang about her art and life.
Jujuwang
Wang Jue
A Chinese-American installation artist who is good at extracting creative inspiration from traditional culture and nature, and combining it with contemporary art methods for artistic expression. In 2019, he became one of the three winners of the “Swarovski Designer of the Future” award worldwide.
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Get to know ECCO and create with passion
Left: Detail of the leather art dynamic installation Greatness of Nature;
Right: Detail of the gear art installation Greatness of Human
N+: The art installations you created for ECCO are named Greatness of Nature and Greatness of Human. What do you want to express through them?
Jujuwang: Both works are based on the theme of “A drop in the ocean, a mustard seed”. Greatness of Nature’s leather art dynamic installation next to the window combines ECCO APPARITION phantom transparent leather technology to show the natural rhythm with watercolor symbols. I hope that when people approach this installation, they can feel the vastness and breadth of nature, as well as the insignificance of human beings and the great nature that coexist with each other in the beginning of heaven and earth, and trace the ECCO brand’s unique sentiment of embracing nature.
As you can see, Greatness of Human, as a gear art installation that runs through two floors of space, expresses the infinite possibilities of human thought and creativity by displaying traditional skills and modern technology.
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Two-way choice, both a partner and a friend
Jujuwang’s personal work “Cloud House” art installation
N+: Seeing that more and more of your commercial works have entered the public eye, how do you view the relationship between personal works and commercial cooperation?
Jujuwang: Indeed, many of my works are projects in cooperation with commercial brands. Many people will unconsciously place art and commerce on opposite sides, but in my opinion, the cooperation between art and commerce is a kind of mutuality, in which you can see how the creators balance and find the connection between them.
I am always willing to try to cooperate with different brands. Of course, when a brand selects an artist, it is actually a two-way selection process. For example, the brand’s concept still needs to be in line with my values. In turn, I will try my best to do it within the limited time and budget. To complete the brand proposition, good cooperation should involve mutual understanding and respect.
By adhering to a shared value system, he shows his exploration and understanding of art to the public. In the process, he also enriches the public’s inner emotional experience. I have always believed that art is for people to appreciate and perceive, and sometimes it can also be a way for people to see themselves.
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The folding of Eastern and Western cultures,Let traditional spirituality touch contemporary expression
Jujuwang’s personal work “Looking at the Palace” art installation
N+: I learned that you studied engineering overseas for more than ten years. Why did you finally choose to become an artist?
Jujuwang: I studied Engineering Academy in high school in the United States, and then I went to the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) to study civil engineering, or aerospace engineering in transportation engineering. But the education I received was not boring. It allowed me to think about the relationship between space and humans from another perspective . I have always believed that a space should be alive, giving people the possibility to explore and extend in a more meaningful direction. This idea also led me to eventually become an installation artist.
N+: You seem to be very interested in Chinese traditional culture. Why do you like these traditional techniques and patterns so much? Do you think your personal works contain personal emotions?
Jujuwang: I particularly like handmade things. After coming into contact with these materials, I will imagine the creative process behind it, or how this history is passed down. Everything that comes out of the factory looks the same, with no trace of handwork, but behind the craftsmanship is the core and essence of tradition. All of my pieces are one piece and they have to feel like there is a story and emotion behind them.
I think every installation contains “space, material, and emotion,” which is just one word different from the “space, material, and function” that I learned when I studied engineering. I prefer to put perceptual emotions first compared to function. Many times my works are “beautiful but useless” because I think good works can make people feel emotions.
N+: Which aspect of traditional Chinese culture do you think has the most profound impact on you, and how do you incorporate it into your personal works?
Jujuwang: After returning to China, I began to gradually understand a concept that applies to all aspects of life, and that is balance. I hope I can acquire this life philosophy as soon as possible. In traditional culture, balance has always carried the wisdom of the predecessors. The key to the success of something is not good or bad, but the perfect balance between the two . The direct impact this has had on me is that I have been trying to balance Eastern and Western cultures, as well as trying to balance the role of women with the identity of an engineering background.
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The works are for people to perceive,But it also reflects life and reveals oneself
Jujuwang’s personal work “Savage Growth” art installation
N+: What are you most satisfied with in your current job?
Jujuwang: Forever young. Compared with many professions that may have age restrictions, becoming an artist is a process of continuous development, learning, exploration and reorientation , perceiving the connection between oneself and the world around him, regardless of identity, nationality, age, gender, and integrating different cultures , extending the values and concepts held. I am grateful and honored to be who I am today.
N+: What is your most satisfying personal work so far and why?
Jujuwang: It’s hard to choose, but there are three works that will inspire me at some important moments.
“Cloud House” is an art installation. The Dai paper used in the installation is the refinement of ancient papermaking techniques. It was born in the rainforest and maintains the tradition of environmental friendliness with a pure production process. This is created by mutual respect between man and nature. Skills, I hope more people can pay attention to ancient crafts like Dai paper that have been handed down to this day.
“PalaSee” art installation, “PalaSee” has a very special English name called “PalaSee” which means “To see the palace”. The project combines modern materials and laser engraving technology to “project” traditional patterns onto clean materials using laser engraving. I hope this installation can serve as a bridge over time, reuniting traditional architecture and people.
The “Savage Growth” art installation takes viewers into a space filled with giant bows. Soft and delicate emotions are expressed through seemingly hard and unyielding materials, hoping to arouse people’s curiosity to transcend their own limitations and try different possibilities.
N+: Are there any new art projects being planned in the near future?
Jujuwang: I am currently preparing for a new solo exhibition, which will be held in Shanghai in July. The exhibition will express the inner beliefs of the people living on this soil. Especially in recent months, these ideas once resonated with me. At the same time, I am also preparing a project with the government to build an outdoor installation in a park in Shanghai.
