MA RUI
LEGENDARY INTERVIEW
Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer MA RUI ("MR") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.
DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?
MR : Because I was born in an artist family, my father, my elders, brothers and sisters are engaged in art work. So when I was very young, I knew that I would become an art practitioner, and jewelry was one of my favorite directions, so I finally became a jewelry designer.
DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?
MR : I want to turn what I imagine to be beautiful into real things.
DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?
MR : I choose to be a designer.
DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?
MR : The characteristic of my design is Hetian Jade. I want to publicize the traditional Chinese Hetian Jade.
DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?
MR : Simple, but rich in content
DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?
MR : Repeat the design and rebuild it until it succeeds.
DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?
MR : I was inspired by my father, who is a very famous master of jade carving in China.
DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?
MR : My wife is my supporter. She always stands behind me and supports any decision I make.
DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?
MR : I hope I can make further breakthroughs in the realm of art and create something that no one else has done.
DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?
MR : Go out of China and do some international exhibitions and competitions.
DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?
MR : My most satisfying works are usually the latest ones.
DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?
MR : one week to half a year.
DL: What is your life motto as a designer?
MR : You can learn from it, but do not copy it.
DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?
MR : Because I was born in an artist family, my father, my elders, brothers and sisters are engaged in art work. So when I was very young, I knew that I would become an art practitioner, and jewelry was one of my favorite directions, so I finally became a jewelry designer.
DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?
MR : Most of my designs are about titanium and Hetian nephrite. I hope more people can understand and know about the traditional Chinese Hetian Nephrite.
MA RUI
LEGENDARY DESIGNER
IT WAS NOT UNTIL RAY INVENTED HIS OWN “YIN AND YANG”, OR DARK AND BRIGHT, CARVING METHOD DID THE PUBLIC REALIZE THAT JADE CAN ALSO BE FINELY SCULPTED AS LUXURY PIECES OF JEWELRY. RAY, THE FOUNDER OF MASTER MA AND JADE JEWELRY SCULPTOR, STARTED HIS ART DESIGN AND SCULPTURING OF MOST FAMOUS JADE - HETIAN JADE SINCE 2004. JADE IS LOOSELY UNDERSTOOD IN CHINA AS THE COLLECTIVE NAME FOR MOST PRECIOUS STONES AND HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED AS OBJECTS OF PURE DECORATION. THOUGH JADE CARVING CONSTITUTES AN IMPORTANT PART OF CHINESE ARTS AND CRAFTS, NOT MANY THOUGHT AS RAY DID TO TURN IT INTO A PIECE OF JEWELRY. TO MANY, WEARING CARVED JADE WITH A STRING HANG UP EITHER ON THEIR NECKS OR WRISTS IS FOR GOOD MEANINGS. BUT FOR RAY, JADE IS MORE THAN THAT. UNLIKE TRADITIONAL JADE CRAFTSMAN’S OLD SCHOOL STYLE JUST FEATURING EVERYDAY OBJECTS AS THE WAY THEY NATURALLY ARE, RAY GIVES JADE THE NEW MEANING –MAKING EACH PIECE OF JADE A UNIQUE AND EXQUISITE ARTWORK THAT CAN BE EASILY WORN ACCORDING TO ITS LUSTER AND MATERIAL. RAY MAKES HIS OWN UNIQUE JEWELRY DESIGN FAVORS BY COMBINING WESTERN JEWELRY SUCH AS COLORED DIAMONDS WITH CHINESE JEWELRY LIKE JADE AND PORCELAIN. HE ALSO ADDS CHINESE TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS INTO WESTERN JEWELRY DESIGN IDEAS, TURNING CHINESE INK PAINTING, JADE CARVING AND OTHER MEANS OF EXPRESSION, AND THE CHINESE TASTE INTO WESTERN JEWELRY DESIGNS.
