L’ÉCOLE Asia Pacific’s HKDI Scholarship Ceremony 2023

To nurture the future young talents in jewelry arts and design, L’ÉCOLE Asia Pacific, School of Jewelry Arts have been partnered with Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) to offer Scholarship for Academic Excellence for students from the Higher Diploma in Jewellery Design and Technology since 2020. This prestigious scholarship recognizes the exceptional academic accomplishments of these students and aims to inspire their ongoing dedication to the field of jewelry study.

This year, four students have been honored with the Scholarship, with a scholarship grant of HKD10,000 per student. In addition, the recipients will have the opportunity to attend eight four-hour L’ÉCOLE jewelry courses. The Award Ceremony with Olivier Segura, Managing Director of L’ÉCOLE Asia Pacific as the presenter, was held at L’ÉCOLE in December 2023. The recipients and students from HKDI then visited the “An Eye for Beauty, the Illuminata Jewelry Collection” exhibition, guided by our docent team to journey through the 3000 years of jewelry history through the eye of a local connoisseur.

 
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Interview of Scholarship Recipients

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Cheung Ning Yi (left) and Kwong Tsz Yu, Yuki (right)
2023 Graduate of Higher Diploma in Jewellery Design
Hong Kong Design Institute 

Have a Call, Kwong Tsz Yu, Yuki. 2023.
Between the Gap 2, Cheung Ning Yi. 2023.

Can you tell us about your interest in jewels and jewelry?

Ning Yi 

My interest in jewelry and jewelry design dates back to my high school years; The higher diploma course of HKDI has equipped me with knowledge of gems and precious metals. 

Yuki

I’ve loved to do arts and crafts since I was a child. I was fascinated by HKDI’s higher diploma courses when I considered my tertiary study pathways. There were courses in metalwork, in which I was interested. I thought I might as well give it a try. Before HKDI, I was a complete novice at metalwork, but then I’m able to build an all-round knowledge base from the ground up, from jewelry design to production. It helps consolidate my passion for jewelry design.

Could you introduce your work or portfolio?

Ning Yi

My latest work Between the Gap is an allegory of our generation. People always see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

The series features two pieces – a ring and a brooch – combining the latest materials including ceramic and precious metal. It is a vigorous metaphor for a plant growing in a cracked wall. Bursting with vitality, it will eventually be in full flower.

 

Yuki

From my portfolio, I want to talk about Have a Call, a generous set of hand jewelry inspired by my own gesture of holding a telephone receiver, with its cable coiling around my wrist. When worn, they fashion your hand gesture into one of holding a phone receiver.

This is an impressive set because it represents a natural form. During its production, you had to work on it in one sitting, lest that there would be a break in the continuity of lines. So, the production process was as challenging as it was indelible. With such an organic form, I had to go back and forth to adjust it to achieve the optimal results, including a comfortable wear. In addition, the set is large in proportion – one step went wrong and you would need to start it all over again.

 

You are now the recipient of a Scholarship. How do you intend to put this to use?

Ning Yi

First of all, I would like to thank L’ÉCOLE for the scholarship. I will pursuit further studies in the field of jewelry design with part-time gemology and jewelry design courses.

Yuki

First of all, I’m glad to be a recipient. I’ll use the grant to buy a goldsmith work bench and other tools, so that I can go on with my creative work at home. Otherwise, I can only do it at school, which is fully equipped. With the work bench, I can invest more time on jewelry design

Were you familiar with L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts before applying for this scholarship?

Ning Yi

I went to a seminar organized by L’ÉCOLE as a HKDI student; I also watched their Online Conversations a few time and visited the “Men's Rings, Yves Gastou Collection” exhibition" – this is the third time that I visit L’ÉCOLE.

Yuki

This is the first time that I visit L’ÉCOLE. I’ve always run into L’ÉCOLE’s advertisements for their exhibitions in the MTR. It was much later that I found, when walking around K11 MUSEA, there was a large-scale jewelry arts school in Hong Kong, with courses open to the public