Jiayi Lao (b. 1993, Shaoxing) currently lives and works in Rotterdam. In 2016, she received her Bachelor's degree in Jewelry and Material Craft from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). In 2019, she completed her MFA at Rhode Island School of Design. Her practice explores the relationship between highly reflective material surfaces, symbolism, and cultural identity through jewelry and installation.
A Journey of Tin paper
A Journey of Tin paper rooted in a family tradition from the southern coastal regions of China. Every New Year, my grandmother folded “tin paper” (thin sheets of aluminum foil pressed together with joss paper) into ornate pagodas. These paper towers, carrying prayers for protection and prosperity, were burned during the
celebrations, with fire acting as the medium to deliver them to the gods. This ritual, passed down through the women in my family, has been preserved across generations.