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©Shannon Tofts

Sheng Zhang

  • Silversmith
  • Glasgow, United Kingdom
  • Rising Star
Sheng Zhang Silversmith
Contact
English, Mandarin
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+44 7743833616
©Paul Read

Geometric silver sculptures

  • • Sheng makes contemporary sculptures out of silver
  • • His minimalist design relies on traditional techniques
  • • He studied jewellery making in China and the UK

Sheng Zhang is a contemporary silversmith from China, now based in the United Kingdom. His education began at the University of Geosciences in Wuhan and he soon decided to do an exchange trip to Birmingham School of Jewellery. He spent several years in UK universities while he honed his craft. Sheng was supported by the universities and could use their facilities in exchange for teaching workshops, and he learned the methodology of design. Now he works as an independent creative silversmith. His works in silver bring together carefully crafted silver and skillful minimalist design. When working on a piece, he checks the quality of his object through a self-imposed validation loop, where his work goes between idea, research and prototypes, until Sheng is fully satisfied with the result.

Read the full interview

Works

  • ©Shannon Tofts
  • ©Shannon Tofts
  • ©Shannon Tofts
  • ©Shannon Tofts
  • ©Shannon Tofts
Photo: ©Shannon Tofts
‘Curved Curves’ Sculptural Objects

This group of cuboid sculptures with curved edges is derived and evolved from a previous work called Inside Out. It explores the contrasts between curved and straight, black and gold, inside and outside.

Photo: ©Shannon Tofts
‘Inside Out’ Sculptural Objects

These cuboid sculptural objects contain openings on the edges, which emphasise the link between internal and external space. This introduces light passing through the work and playing with shadows, as a changeable echo of the work itself.

Photo: ©Shannon Tofts
‘Inside Out’ Sculptural Objects

This image demonstrates the shadow of the work, what it looks like when light passes through the work from a particular angle, and thereby questions the relationship between the work and its surroundings.

Photo: ©Shannon Tofts
‘Patch’ Sculptural Vase

Sculptural yet functional, regular yet asymmetric, this octagon vase embraces both traditional silversmithing skills and modern approaches. An ancient gilding technique named keum-boo has been used to apply 24 carat gold foils to the main body of work.

Photo: ©Shannon Tofts
‘Pyramid’ Sculptural Vases

Gloriously elegant, understated and tactile, these timeless sculptural vases convey a real sense of joy. These double-sided triangular objects can be displayed upside down or topside up to become either sculptural pieces or functional vases for dry flowers.

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