The second edition of Gen D – Designer Generation by Dolce & Gabbana is comprised of eleven designers under 40, handpicked from various countries by project curator Federica Sala, and converging at Via Broggi 19, Milan, April 16 - 21, to celebrate cultural diversity through the universal language of design.
Designer Jie Wu, with her creation A Journey, adeptly reinterprets the traditions of her homeland, aiming to convey happiness through colours, textures, shapes, and storytelling. Comprised of three decorative vases crafted in a fire enamel studio in Venice, this work marks the designer’s first venture into the vast possibilities of the kiln.
‘Italy has always struck me as a place of vibrance and passion, filled with the flowing beauty of art and rich storytelling. The initial inspiration for ‘A Journey’ came from the pinecone motif from Sicily, which symbolises luck and brings good fortune to people. In my culture, there are also many elements symbolising luck and good blessings. For this series of decorative vases, I have merged elements like lotus flowers, bronze artefacts, and Chinese knots – symbols of hope and good wishes in my culture – with the pinecone motif. Every unique piece is a fusion of the ancient and the modern, a blend of cultures, conveying a sense of luck and happiness.
This work has been a great opportunity for me to expand on my skills; lending my techniques to new materials and pushing myself to discover further possibilities in my work.’
