

Lacuna in Jade series
Leftover jade, white cement
A set of 15
2024
The Lacuna in Jade series consists of 15 sculptures made of leftover jade and white concrete. The series draws its essence from the discarded jade pieces, salvaged from the workshops of Hong Kong's once thriving jade carving industry. During the 1950s-80s, Hong Kong reigned supreme as the global hub for jade ornaments, fuelled by its burgeoning population and economic dominance. Canton Road in Jordan, Kowloon, became a bustling centre of craftsmanship and commerce. However, as mainland China rose to prominence, jade carving in Hong Kong gradually faded into a sunset industry. The meticulous process of jade carving often leaves behind fragments of the precious stone. To extract the best parts for intricate designs, craftsmen first slice the jade, then drill and carve, leaving behind hollows in the remaining pieces. These remnants, bearing the marks of their past, are often set aside, awaiting a future that may never come.
The Lacuna in Jade series breathes new life into these overlooked fragments. Leftover jades were collected, each bearing the imprint of a craftsman's touch, and reimagines them as sculptures. Alongside these remnants, the various forms of jade ornaments crafted by local artisans were also collected, molded and casted in white concrete, then filled into the missing parts of the jade fragments. This juxtaposition creates a dialogue between the negative spaces and imaginations, inviting viewers to imagine the potential that lay within the extracted jade, while simultaneously honouring the enduring legacy of local artisans and the resilience of Hong Kong's jade carving heritage.
The Lacuna in Jade series was commissioned by Art Central.
玉闕系列
玉石邊角料、白水泥
一組十五件
2024
香港在二十世紀五十至八十年代曾是世界玉飾品的製造和貿易重地,直至香港工業逐漸被中國內地取代。在玉闕系列中,朱氏蒐集了香港本地工匠製作玉石飾物時剩餘的玉石邊角料,並想像邊角料中缺失的部分可能已經被加工成甚麼成品。朱氏將相應出自本地工匠之手的玉製品以白水泥倒模,填入邊角料缺失位置,使玉石中的負空間及其可能性產生新對話。作品希望帶領觀眾認識香港一度興盛的玉石行業,並向香港現存的玉石工匠致敬。
玉闕系列由 Art Central 委託製作。
Press Coverage 相關報導
2024 尚善,〈旅發局 「藝聚香港」推動年青藝術家走向世界 展現香港藝文特色〉,香港01,2024年3月29日。 (Sheung Sin, "'Hong Kong Art Now' by the Tourism Board Takes Young Artists towards the World", HK01, 29 March 2024.) (Chinese only)