Deep Roots

Cindy Chao’s latest collection of exquisite high jewellery pays homage to her family. Jakki Phillips meets the Taiwanese designer at the European Fine Art Fair, and discovers how heritage shapes her museum-worthy creations

The scent of eucalyptus, the sight of glass jewellery boxes suspended from branches and the sweet sound of birdsong—these are some of the sensory experiences that welcome gem connoisseurs visiting Cindy Chao’s Tree of Life installation at the European Fine Art Fair in the Dutch city of Maastricht.

During her bold debut at this world famous fair, commonly known by its acronym, Tefaf, the Taiwanese jewellery designer is unveiling her 2019 Black Label Masterpieces within the boughs of a leafy sculpture towering over her exhibition space. Rising tall from a solid foundation of roots, this whimsical design reflects the inspiration behind Cindy’s latest collection—her own family tree.

When I meet Cindy she is busy tapping away on her laptop in a private room tucked away behind the booth for her brand, Cindy Chao The Art Jewel.

“Come and take a look at these,” she says, beckoning me towards her screen. “Aren’t these incredible,” she enthuses as she scrolls through digital scans of blueprints of Taiwanese temples meticulously hand-drawn by her grandfather in the days long before computer wizardry. An architect, her grandfather built hundreds of sacred buildings across Asia during his 60-year career, many of which are now treasured national monuments.

“I love studying the details in his work,” says Cindy, who preserved thousands of her beloved grandfather’s sketches after his death and has framed originals hanging on her office walls. “They remind me of where I come from, my heritage. My jewellery designs are very architectural and people often ask about the inspiration behind them. I grew up watching my grandfather create intricate drawings and calculating angles in order to craft beautiful structures. His genius shaped the way I think.”