Kezhen Wang

Kezhen Wang is the dean of the Arts & Crafts major and an associate professor of metal art and craft in Nanjing University of the Arts. He graduated with a master's degree from the School of Jewellery, Birmingham College of Art and Design, UK. After that, he stayed in school for one year as an artist in 2004. Now, Wang is a doctoral student under Professor Hang Jian in China Academy of Fine Arts. Wang is also an active independent curator, especially in the field of contemporary handicrafts and contemporary jewellery. He has hosted "Non-artisan"-Chinese contemporary handicraft Exhibition (Nanjing, China), "Stones Abroad"-China Contemporary Jewellery Exhibition (National Design and Handicraft Centre, UK), "China Contemporary New Jewellery Exhibition" (Melbourne, Australia), "Three Paths"-Academic Nomination Exhibition of China’s Contemporary Crafts, etc.

Now, his works and the cultural values contained in them have become a bridge for mutual understanding between Chinese and western metal arts and cultures, and this process is of great significance. Wang, a thinker of contemporary metal art, can use his creations to constantly convey the cultural values that are worth cherishing.

Wang makes a perfect presentation of the exploration process and has a strong curiosity about new things. As one of the earliest students to study abroad in the field of Chinese metal art, Wang is rooted in the two cultures and absorbs both nutrients. Now, the cultural values in his works have become a bridge of understanding between Chinese and Western metal art and culture, and this process is of great significance. A thinker of contemporary metal art like Wang can continuously convey valuable cultural values with his creations.

When Wang first entered the metal art industry, he won the 2005 British Silversmith Industry Association annual Silver Award (the gold medal was vacant that year). His works have won many Chinese and international awards. "Rice Vessel" has been permanently collected by Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and China Arts & Crafts Museum.