Midnight Tide: A Masterpiece of Artistic Expression and Exquisite Craftsmanship

Elinn Yi Fang's Award-Winning Necklace Design Inspired by the Serenity of Oceanic Movements

The inspiration for this design came from the artist's fascination with the serenity of the ocean, particularly the frothy ebbs of midnight tides. The necklace, draping effortlessly over the wearer's shoulder, mimics the fluidity of a wave caressing down the coastline, imbuing the pulse of the ocean into the wearer's very being.

To realize this artistic vision, the necklace 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.

The necklace is crafted from diamond inlaid 18ct White Gold, individually modeled and cast with 3D printing techniques. The design process involved relentless trial and error and countless prototyping, culminating in the final engineering of the structure.

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.

One of the key challenges in creating this piece was achieving visual harmony and conveying the intended artistic vision. 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.

This design, born during the city-wide lockdown in Shanghai in April 2022 and completed in January 2023, is a testament to the resilience and agility of the artist. It is a masterpiece of artistic expression and exquisite craftsmanship, a true embodiment of the serenity of the ocean's midnight tides.