The Final Stop of The "Lin Lang" 2025 China Contemporary Jewellery International Tour Was Presented in Pforzheim, Germany

The third exhibition of “Lin Lang — The Chinese Story of Jewellery Art: International Touring Exhibition of Contemporary Jewellery” a China National Arts Fund 2025 Dissemination, Exchange, and Promotion Grant Project,recently arrived in Pforzheim, Germany, renowned as the “City of Gold.” Sponsored by the National Arts Fund, organized by the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), and specially supported by Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, the exhibition was co-hosted by the School of Design, Central Academy of Fine Arts; THE CLOSER GALLERY (Beijing); and the SCHÜTT Exhibition Hall.

This marks the first collective international debut of Chinese jewellery art in Germany. The exhibition’s “high artistic standards” and “cultural depth” reflect China’s 30-year educational heritage and cultural confidence in jewellery art. As such, it represents a landmark “cultural outreach” initiative for Chinese jewellery art.

Hosted by David Feulner, director of the SCHÜTT Exhibition Hall, the opening ceremony commenced with an innovative performances featuring violinist Jiabao Cao, first violinist of the Euregio Jeugdorkest, and cellist Ms. Jiaan Cao. Dignitaries included Claudia Baumbusch, representative of Pforzheim’s Cultural Bureau and art historian; Cultural Counselor Liwen Tang and Consul Yun Xue from the Cultural Section of the Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt; Alan Chan, Chief Brand Officer of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group; Christine Lüdeke, Professor of Design and Head of Jewellery Postgraduate Studies at Pforzheim University; Academic Director Fei Teng, Professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts; Curators Xiao Liu, Associate Professor and director of Jewellery at the School of Design, CAFA; Xiao Liang, founder of THE CLOSER GALLERY; participating international and Chinese jewellery artists; and other special guests.

Group Photo of Dignitaries (From Left to Right): David Feulner, Director of Schütte Exhibition Hall, Professor Fei Teng, Academic Director of the Exhibition & Professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Mr. Liwen Tang, Consul for Culture at the Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt, Claudia Baumbusch, Art Historian & Representative of the Cultural Office, Pforzheim City, Mr. Alan Chan, Chief Brand Officer of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Professor Christine Lüdeke, Director of the Jewellery Design Graduate Program at Pforzheim University of Design

In terms of cultural dissemination and exchange, the exhibition received high praise from Pforzheim’s cultural authorities and the Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt. At the opening ceremony, Claudia Baumbusch, representative of Pforzheim’s Cultural Bureau and art historian, emphasized: “Pforzheim has a centuries-old tradition in jewellery craftsmanship, traceable to over 250 years ago. By the early 20th century, the city had emerged as the ‘City of Gold,’ driven by vigorous global trade networks spanning Europe and beyond. Even today, approximately 70% of Germany’s jewellery originates from Pforzheim-based enterprises. In this era of profound transformation, fostering dialogue centered on exchange and diversity is not merely symbolic—it is essential. Art’s purpose lies in bridging divides, catalyzing cross-cultural collaboration, and celebrating the singular value of each creation—here, embodied in the artistry of jewellery.”

Cultural Counselor Liwen Tang of the Chinese Consulate General in Frankfurt, in his opening remarks, stressed: “The ‘Lin Lang’ touring exhibition not only conveys China’s narratives through its works but also constructs a bridge for cultural dialogue between China and Germany. By transcending geographical and cultural boundaries, it enables audiences to experience artistic resonance. Cultural exchange remains an essential pathway to fostering mutual understanding and friendship between nations. Through this exhibition, we firmly believe that friends in Germany and beyond will gain a deeper insight into China’s artistic landscape and resonate with its cultural ethos of openness and inclusivity. This event also represents a pivotal opportunity to advance cultural exchange and people-to-people connectivity between China and Germany.”

As the Special Exhibition Sponsor, Alan Chan, Chief Brand Officer of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, extended his gratitude to the National Arts Fund, Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), and the SCHÜTT Exhibition Hall, while highlighting the profound significance of the “Lin Lang” exhibition’s theme. He stated: “This exhibition resonates deeply with Chow Tai Fook Jewellery’s mission of cultural heritage preservation and promotion. By showcasing contemporary jewellery art, we aim to foster cross-cultural dialogue, strengthen international friendships, and share China’s traditional craftsmanship and cultural essence with the global community. Through jewellery—a universal language—we seek to bridge cultural divides and illuminate China’s artistic splendor to the world.”

Alan Chan, Chief Brand Officer of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, stated that the Group’s vision is “To be the leading global jewellery brand that is a trusted lifetime partner for every generation.” In collaboration with the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), Chow Tai Fook Jewellery meticulously selected two masterpieces for the exhibition: The Green Maza, a Fei Cui necklace symbolizing the cyclical essence of the cosmos, reflecting perpetual renewal and vitality, and The Argyle Empress, inspired by Hong Kong’s camellia flowers, this piece embodies elegance and cultural identity through rare Argyle pink diamonds and purple jade. Alan further introduced products from Chow Tai Fook Jewellery’s new CTF Joie Collection, themed “Unlocking Your Happiness”, as well as a specially designed curated for this exhibition. These creations combine unique design with exquisite craftsmanship, elevating jewellery to the realm of collectible art—akin to masterpieces by renowned artists.

Professor Christine Lüdeke of Pforzheim University of Design emphasized: “It is jade that gathers us here today. Through this exhibition, we observe that individuals and cultural contexts interpret jade in diverse ways. We firmly believe that jade resonates, humanity resonates, and design and art resonate. When we transcend our mental frameworks, this resonance continuously grows and evolves. The energy embedded in the stone, the energy of dialogue among creators, and the energy between material and humanity—all harmonize with us in coexistence, exchange, and mutual understanding. This is the essence of the exhibition: a symphony of shared resonance where cultural differences dissolve into collective meaning-making.”

Fei Teng, Academic Director and Professor of Jewellery at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), concluded her remarks on the exhibition’s academic direction: “‘Lin Lang: Chinese Narratives in Jewellery Art’ embodies not only spiritual continuity, but also creative evolution, and future-oriented exploration. Through meticulous curatorial iterations, we recognize this exhibition as a bold experiment where visual and conceptual elements coexist in dispersion and focus. The exhibition’s core mission lies in leveraging jewellery culture, aesthetics, and philosophical inquiry to foster mutual understanding, appreciation, and harmonious coexistence among diverse human cultures. This is both the responsibility and calling of art educators and practitioners—bridging tradition and innovation while nurturing a global dialogue through materiality and form.”

As the ceremony concluded, German sound artist and stone chime performer Hannes Fessmann delivered an experimental performance using gabbro stone instruments—unique creations carved from the dense volcanic rock. Simultaneously, Ms. Li Dong, founder of Stichting Toptafeltennis Nieuwegein and former member of Bundesliga Table Tennis Team, led guests in an interactive ping-pong activity. In this moment, the exhibition’s theme “Lin Lang” resonated through the harmonization of “jiang jiang” and “ping-pong” sounds—a sonic metaphor for cultural dialogue. The interplay between these seemingly disparate elements symbolizes the exhibition’s mission: bridging artistic traditions through materiality and sound.