Ma Yuqian is a contemporary jewellery artist specialising in the design and carving of natural stones. Continuously exploring the unique characteristics of these stones, Ma delves into their combination with metals and other materials, uncovering their potential applications in jewellery design. The inspiration for Ma's work stems from observing the absurd phenomena and perplexing behaviours in life. Ma suggests that absurdity may be inherent to human nature and posits that living a life entirely guided by reason is the true absurdity. Morality, rules, and civilisation constrain this "absurd" nature. Arrows typically point in a single direction, and people are accustomed to following them. However, Ma believes that lives are not limited to just one path; they can also be absurd and diverse. In Ma's work, granite arrows symbolise reason and rules. Through the fragmentation and dispersion of the stone's structure, Ma expresses multiplicity and doubt. By miniaturising and sculpting granite—commonly used in paving—into the main body of jewellery pieces, Ma challenges the material's stability. The inherent weight, sense of time, and authenticity of the stone are reinterpreted, adding a new dimension to its traditional perception.
