ASO Leon, a Chinese jewelry Master, offers a profound insight into the nuanced relationship between nature and the realm of artistic creation, particularly within the traditionally perfection-seeking domain of jewelry design. His reflection emerges from a personal journey—a transformative interaction with the natural world through his own garden, revealing a deeper appreciation for the transient, imperfect stages of life.
Aso Leon
He was born in 1978 and raised in ZhaoQing, a quaint city located on the western side of GuangDong Province. ZhaoQing is renowned for producing tools essential for Chinese printing, an atmosphere that kindled his interest in traditional Chinese art.
Education and Early Career
At the age of 17, he moved to Hong Kong to study and work in the atelier of a master’s in fine jewelry. The 1990s marked a period of booming growth for Hong Kong’s luxury industry. It was during this time that he became acquainted with titanium and decided to incorporate it into his own creative works.
Exhibitions
He has maintained a low profile, previously presenting his work only to collectors and fellow artists. In April 2023, he participated in the “The Joy of Colour” exhibition at the Shenzhen Jewelry Museum, alongside other artists. In May 2023, he made his European debut at GemGenève. The warm reception from both the press and the public worldwide has encouraged him to plan further exhibitions, including a return to GemGenève in May 2024 and a show in Shanghai in the third quarter of 2024. He currently resides in Guangzhou, the capital city of GuangDong Province.
Laura Astrologo Porché wearing Aso Leon’s jewelry at Gemgenève, May 2023
ASO’s perspective challenges the conventional notion of beauty, particularly in luxury items like jewelry, where perfection and flawlessness are often prized above all. His observation that people gravitate towards representations of nature at its peak—like a rose in full bloom—speaks to a broader cultural inclination towards idealized forms of beauty. However, his own artistic evolution demonstrates a shift towards valuing the authenticity and stories embedded in imperfection. This transformation is catalyzed by his intimate observations of nature’s cycles in his garden, leading to a profound appreciation for the beauty in change and transformation as much as in growth and vibrancy.
Zen Renaissance Collection
ASO Leon‘s new collection, titled “Zen Renaissance” beautifully encapsulates the essence of Zen philosophy and the notion of renewal and transformation that pervades both nature and human experience. Drawing inspiration from the serene wisdom of Lao Tseu, who once said, “The Great Form is without form” ASO Leon invites us into a contemplative space where the boundaries between the material and the spiritual blur, where the impermanent and ever-changing nature of reality is not just acknowledged but celebrated.
The artist’s narrative about observing a tree through the seasons encapsulates this shift. His description of picking up a leaf that has fallen from a tree—a leaf that may appear “crippled” to some but “very vivid” to his eyes—illustrates a redefinition of beauty. It’s not just the visual aspect of the leaf that captures his imagination but the stories, memories, and the testament of resilience it represents. By keeping such a leaf on his workbench and contemplating it over tea, ASO transforms it into a symbol of life’s poetry, marked by time and experience.
This perspective not only enriches his creative process but also offers a philosophical commentary on how beauty is perceived and valued. He suggests that beauty can be found in the marks of time and experience, offering a more inclusive and authentic representation of nature and life itself. This approach not only diversifies the aesthetic landscape of jewelry design but also resonates with broader existential themes, making ASO’s work profoundly meaningful.
The central motif of the leaf serves as a powerful symbol within this collection, embodying the heart of a tree and, by extension, the heart of nature itself. Through this symbol, ASO Leon explores the cyclical nature of life and the energy that flows through time, highlighting the leaf’s role in maintaining the cycle of life and bringing about renewal with the changing seasons. This perspective offers a profound reflection on the interconnectedness of all things, suggesting that just as leaves precipitate the past and the future, our lives too are woven into the fabric of a larger, timeless narrative.
“Zen Renaissance” is more than a collection of jewelry; it is an invitation to experience Zen—to engage in meditation and conscious breathing, to find peace and clarity amid the hustle and bustle of urban life. It encourages us to recall the memory of time and youth, to see in the leaves not just the precipitation of the past and the future but also a mirror reflecting our own journeys through the seasons of life.
This collection offers urban citizens a bridge to nature and a path back to themselves, reminding us of the beauty inherent in the process of transformation and the value of embracing the moment. In doing so, ASO Leon achieves a remarkable fusion of art, philosophy, and environmental consciousness, positioning “Zen Renaissance” as a meditative exploration of beauty, time, and the very essence of existence.
During our interview I asked ASO Leon to explain his source of inspiration:
“I enjoy growing flowers in my studio and contemplating my creations at night. Taking walks after dark, I sometimes collect uniquely shaped fallen leaves. Observing natural phenomena in the serene atmosphere serves as a significant source of inspiration for me. Guangzhou, being a subtropical city, boasts flowers that bloom throughout all seasons. Here, falling leaves are not confined to autumn alone; one can witness plants blooming and shedding leaves simultaneously. This simultaneous occurrence of change and the cycle of the four seasons in Guangzhou mirrors the principles of Zen in Chinese philosophy, where death and new life coexist. This confluence of events provides me with inspiration.”
What’s next? Any future plans?
“I am working with lacquer artists. I have already made fine jewelry using lacquer craftsmanship. Maybe I am the first artist to make fine jewelry with a combination of titanium and lacquer. In the future, I will make more works that break through the traditional concept of high jewelry.”
Article edited by Laura Astrologo Porché
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