Cien Su

This practice-led research originates from childhood memories of crossing by ferry from my birthplace to Hong Kong. The ocean on those journeys was a mesmerising spectacle—a vast, tranquil expanse of shifting blues and greens. This personal history is now starkly contrasted with the modern reality of those same waters, which are increasingly polluted by plastic debris and contamination. This dissonance between memory and lived experience fuels this creative research and its interest in the potential of ‘gentle activism’ through the creation of wearable art. Utilising vitreous enamel, acrylic, and glass, I fabricate forms that hybridise marine biologics, such as jellyfish, starfish, and fish, with the morphology of consumer waste. This series of works employs colour theory and the wearable nature of jewellery to explore the tension between aesthetic attraction and ecological discourse. By translating this environmental narrative into wearable art, the pieces invite the wearer to participate in a form of gentle activism, becoming a quiet yet persistent advocate for ocean awareness. This methodology aims to foster a sustained, empathetic engagement with marine conservation, proposing wearable art as a catalyst for quiet reflection and material awareness. 

Cien Su