Exquisite Arts Magazine Vol 1 - July/ August 2016

Meiyi Yang is a jewelry designer born and raised in Shenzhen, the biggest jewelry market in China. She is currently a second year Metals and Jewelry Design MFA student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Meiyi is dedicated to pursuing her passions in life and her love for nature. She enjoys observing all of the magnificent details that occur in life and often draws inspiration from them. Meiyi has a deep interest in fashion and clothing design; this fascination allows her to explore the relationship between jewelry and clothing, as they complement each other. She believes that our bodies are a platform to express our individualities, and that jewelry and apparel are the best methods to do so. ___________________________________________ How Would You Describe Yourself? I don’t think of myself as just being a designer; I am also a dream chaser. All achievements I have made now are derivatives generated while pursuing my dream. If I could sum up my life in only one word, I would say “bravery,” and being brave is a fundamental factor for me doing almost all things. Tell us about your artistic background. My father is an architect who opened the door to the art world for me. Since I was three years old, he taught me how to draw, told me what art is and often discussed art with me. He would hang up my drawings, whether good or bad to help encourage me to improve my skills. My mother however, expected me to become a teacher or a doctor but respects my decision for studying at an art college. She sometimes questions my creations but never stopped supporting me. After graduating from the art college, I began going to the Rochester Institute of Technology (USA) and joined the Metals and Jewelry Design Program. This is a very important stage for me. Each professor of mine spared no efforts to help me and they expected me to perform at the height of my talent; I am very grateful for that. During the summer vacation after my first year, I fortunately obtained an intern position with a Manhattan jewelry company. My employer patiently taught me a lot of knowledge about the jewelry profession. They have been inclusive for some mistakes of mine, sincerely hoping that I would never stop trying. At that time, I seriously thought about my life and decided that I should make meaningful contributions to society while making great achievements. Page 18

Exquisite Arts Magazine Vol 1 - July/ August 2016 | Page 18