pulse palette: bridgit jung
By: Sian tian
Pulse Palette is a monthly arts column highlighting the artistic talent of students on campus.
This month’s focus: bridgit jung jewelery. bridgit creates a wide range of pieces, specializing in bracelets and keychains. We talked to her about what inspires her beautiful work and highlighted a few of our favourites…
BRIDGIT JUNG - JEWELRY
Bridgit (pictured)
Sian (pulse interviewer)
What is your name and can you briefly introduce yourself and your art?
Bridgit
My name is Bridgit, and I’m a senior studying UX design and minoring in Art & Design! My art primarily consists of jewelry and printmaking.
Sian
How did jewelry-making grow to become part of your identity?
Bridgit
My older sister used to make jewelry, and while I found it inspiring, I never really found it appealing until I started wearing jewelry in high school. I liked the look of handmade jewelry, and as someone who has never successfully healed from ear piercings, my selection of earrings was very limited. I jumped on the opportunity to make jewelry as my project for Shift Creator Space, since they reimburse the cost of materials—it really started as a small hobby to make cute jewelry for myself and my friends. However, as I created and shared my jewelry with the community, I got to connect with cool people who also make jewelry and art! I think that making jewelry helped me reconnect with my creative self who did art for fun, and that expanded into other mediums as well.
Sian
What informs your artwork?
Bridgit
I’d like to say that my culture, upbringing, and interests are what primarily influence my artwork. I enjoy making art that reflects who I am as a person—what do I enjoy, think about, and like? I basically grew up on Tumblr and Instagram and was very immersed in the online East Asian art scene, including artists like Little Thunder and maruti_bitamin. My Taiwanese relatives would feed my Cinamoroll obsession with gifts, and I collected cute stationery, flyers, and cards when I would go back to Taiwan every other summer. Those summers in Taipei, where old buildings (many from the era of when Japan ruled Taiwan) are decorated with plants, flowers, and leaves, and you are surrounded by such rich culture—great food, a thriving arts scene, and kind people—how could I not be inspired and moved by that? I think that my art is an expression of strength despite my rough childhood and adolescence, expressing myself in ways that convey my hopeful and grateful self—through vibrant colors, cute characters, meaningful motifs, and (hopefully) graceful elements.
Sian
What is your current favorite piece of jewelry that you own?
Bridgit
I bought a bracelet from Toronto that consists of half green Jade beads and yellow Jasper beads, and the other half a silver chain. The bracelet is made by Everything Jade House, a family Jade business that started in Hong Kong and moved to Toronto. The bracelet is beautiful with its hardware and simplicity, and I really appreciate the modern approach to a traditional form of jewelry—I think it reflects my identity as well as an Asian-American.
Sian
Where can people find you/your art?
Bridgit
Find my jewelry and art on @dearketto on Instagram! My UX portfolio (which also includes some art) is bridgitjung.com.
interested in being interviewed for pulse palette? fill out this form to apply: https://forms.gle/sa3rAZqF9wNvvVit7
