Posted in: Exhibitions
'Guanyin' by Wallace Chan. Photo Courtesy of Luxeford Hong Kong Ltd.
"The Goddess of Mercy ‘Guanyin’ is depicted sprinkling the potion of salvation in a sinuous stream which continues in intaglio as the potion pours onto the crystal base, proceeding to flow seamlessly into the world. She is dressed in a windswept robe decorated with bamboo leaves, her hair in a chignon, and decked with a crown embellished with the Buddha sitting serenely in the clouds."
So reads the catalog entry for the upcoming sale hosted by Luxeford Hong Kong, Ltd. on May 22, 2013. The pride felt in celebrating Hong Kong's own Wallace Chan is palpable, from the pages of their catalog to the enthusiasm of their staff's generous response to this writer's inquiries.
And it is no wonder. Mr. Chan's pursuit of art in jewelry has made a stirring impact on the jewelry industry. After viewing image after image of his astonishing sculptures and jewels, I wrote a note to myself: "They are so haunting; so exquisite it hurts."
Mr. Chan's approach to crafting jewelry is as exquisite as his pieces. He strives for the perfection of every piece he envisions. Each piece is crafted by his own hands, often with gems set upon gems, held in place by cutting-edge techniques forged in his own workshop after many hours of meticulous study.
At many points along the way Mr. Chan has met with obstacles--whether lacking the proper tools or or techniques to perfect his work. At these times, while he has been known to toss a piece out and start over again, he has just as often learned a whole new skill set in order to give birth to his stunning visions. At one point, he studied mechanical engineering in order to make his own tools. At another point, he developed a brand new cutting technique, dubbed the "Wallace Cut". He also devoted a whole season of his life to coaxing the secrets out of titanium, a metal he now uses in nearly every piece he makes.
Having immersed himself in the pursuit of harnessing the varied aspects of light and reflection, he has become so adept in the techniques of jewelry design that he is now able to bend the rules in order to "create freely and set new standards"--the mark of a true master {cited}. Where most jewelers use gold or silver to set gemstones in place, close inspection of Mr. Chan's masterpieces reveal prongs of diamonds or emeralds holding sapphires, rubies, aquamarines, or other richly-colored gemstones in place.
With every piece, every technique, Mr. Chan tells a story of Chinese Zen. This statue of Guanyin, pouring forth the waters of salvation in her white robes, stands as a symbol of mercy, compassion, salvation, and enlightenment. She is favored in Chinese lore as the champion of the people, having renounced her own reward for enlightenment (Nirvana) in order to "teach and transform living beings" {cited}. She listens attentively to the cries of the world.
Just as her male counterpart, Avalokitesvara, "granted compassion wondrous as a great cloud, pouring spiritual rain like nectar, quenching all the flames of distress" {cited}, Guanyin pours out compassion and mercy upon those she visits, relieving their suffering, restoring peace and security, eliciting joy and contemplation, and thereby opening their minds to receiving the truth of enlightenment.
Sculpted out of rock crystal in the very early stages of Mr. Chan's artistic endeavor, this breathtaking statue of Guanyin tells a beautiful story of love, compassion, and mercy with its fluid lines and ethereal way of capturing the light.
If you're planning a trip to Hong Kong, I invite you to stop by the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel from May 19-May 22, where the statue will be on display in boardrooms 5 and 6, with other magnificent treasures offered by Luxeford in their upcoming Fine Jewels sale. And for all serious collectors, be sure to join in the bidding on May 22 at 2pm. You will find more information on Luxeford's website. 11 years ago
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