Wynn Magazine - Las Vegas
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/63192
WENDY YUE distinctive oxidized white-gold set- Many designers are inspired by nature— the subtle patterns on a butterfly's wing, the tendrils of a trailing vine, the sleek, ele- gant silhouette of a panther stalking prey—as well as their journeys to faraway lands, where visions of temples, lagoons, patterned silks, and sunsets unleash a wellspring of creative possi- bilities. The works of Hong Kong-based designer Wendy Yue indicate that she, too, is moved by this sort of stimuli, but her ideas ultimately translate to pieces that encapsulate stories and convey emotions. No motif, no matter how intrinsically compelling, is ever taken too literally. After Yue established her label in 2008, Harrods and Neiman Marcus were among the first retailers to recognize her unique point of view. Lately you'll find her sublime stun- ners at Bags Belts and Baubles at Wynn, where stones that have been carved intricately to resemble all manner of flora and fauna capture the defining characteristics of her collection. This intriguing panoply of agate, coral, jade, or turquoise is usually accom- panied by pavé diamond and sapphire accents, and presented in sapphires, black and white diamonds, black and Necklace with pink lavender jade, pearl, and tanzanite by Wendy Yue ($44,115). Bags Belts and Baubles, 702-770-3555 tings. "Darkened white gold is pure elegance," Yue says. "With all the colored stones that I use, I find that this metal makes the vibrant com- bination of colors stand out." This is not stealth luxury, but wildly opulent sculptural fantasies in the tradition of veteran jewelers Van Cleef & Arpels and Oscar Heyman. But Yue's work also reveals an undeniably modern edge (one ring featuring a carved-agate skull and crossbones comes to mind). Each design begins as a colored-pen- cil sketch to record a particular moment, image, or emotion; the finished pieces can be best understood as musings in a dream journal or a travel memoir. Yet despite the personal nature of her creations, "The mean- ing of any work of art is up to the beholder," she says. "Each piece in my collection tells an elabo- rate story, and people are drawn to the pieces with which they share a connection." For exam- ple, a carved turquoise rose, the centerpiece of a cocktail ring (opposite page, lower right), was inspired by a street artist's Chinese watercolor painting that Yue spotted during a visit to Beijing. But you may be drawn to the blossom because the color reminds you of your grandmother's swimming pool. Or maybe the turquoise blossom symbolizes that you flourished in the wake of a crisis (a blue period, if you will), and are just now entering a phase of renewal and hope. Serpents are a signature motif, the product of a recurring dream in which thousands of snakes infil- trate Yue's living room or slither up her staircase. Most would describe such a scenario as a night- mare, but the snakes never approach Yue; they're just there. So she's not frightened by the imagery, especially since snakes are auspicious symbols in Chinese culture and have inspired so many of her designs. Does one ring (opposite page, lower left) depict a snake that has purloined an ostrich egg? Or is she coiled around her nest, waiting for her newborn babies to poke their heads free? The designer won't say—the answer lies with you. and people are drawn to the pieces with which they share a connection." –WENDY YUE "The meaning of any work of art is up to the beholder. Each piece in my collection tells an elaborate story, WYNN 73