NeoL

――Having graduated, how do you reflect on your university experience?


Money Wang ：Honestly with the pandemic it sucked a little, but overall I think it was a great experience. It was fun.


――Your final collection was about “the possibility of transformation”. Was there a reason why you decided to explore this theme in your final year?


Money Wang ：I wanted my final collection to be very open-ended. I wanted to be free to explore things, which is why I chose a broad theme. It was a big theme that let me explore and experiment with. Transformability was a topic I wanted to work with. My previous project was about utilizing waste from the print room, so I wanted to discuss how one thing transforms to another.

















――You dress very colourful, and your work involves a lot of colours. What relationship do you have with colour?


Money Wang ：I think it’s a very happy thing to work with color. It works very closely with instinct. I gravitate towards color. I tend to cheat my color palette a lot, by using all of the colors. Personally I like green, yellow, blue and orange.


――What encouraged you to start designing these accessories?


Money Wang ： I needed to feel better during the lockdown because everything was constant. Making these jewelry picked me up during the pandemic. It lightened my mood.


――From Ideation to when it is released, as well as the polymer clay and mixed media. Could you take us through the whole creation process?


Money Wang ： I research a broad range of things, then I pick up things that I find interesting. I try to look from different perspectives or take different paths from the main theme. Kind of like a mix and match.
There are many layers of techniques and interpretation to come to my final point of view. My accessories was very instinctive. It’s very hands on too.
I enjoy to be hands on. I would like to think I’m very hands-on but my final project was very digital. Laser cutting was very fun. The end product of my final project was a surprise for me. It felt more digital, also because I come from a graphic design background. It was a merge of both hands-on and digital style of working. I think that too much of the same thing is bad. I think Before I used too much computer so I got sick of it. Going back to something more hands-on was a good balance.

――I was inspired by your expressive creative environment. How do you think developing your artistic environment benefit your work?


Money Wang ： I don’t really think about it that much. For me, I like to experiment and test things out a lot.


――What was the reason you decide to submit your work to Creative 4 Systemic Change?


Money Wang ： I have a friend who was one of the founders of the Creative 4 Systemic Change. I was in quarantine with her and another friend. We had a lot of fun. She just messaged our group whether anyone wanted to submit products for the raffle. It was a good opportunity and a good cause so I was like why not.


――How do you think you spent your time during covid. Do you think the situation affected you?


Money Wang ： It definitely affected me a lot. It hindered the way I like to work. There is a lot of restrictions now, and I couldn’t do a lot of things. It made me feel sad but it became an opportunity for my accessories to come about. My jewelry was born during the lockdown and depression, but it also became something that brought up my mood.


――As a recent graduate and active creator, what do you hope to continue. What are values you keep in mind?


Money Wang ： I would like to start my own studio and be more active in making. In terms of values, I would say being fearless is very important. Be curious, and be open-minded. Open-mindedness and to be not afraid is very important. Skills is something you will learn along the way. I don’t think you need to worry about that. I think you just have to do it.

――If you have any online shops/makers that sell or provide materials and tools that you would recommend, please share them.


Money Wang ： I There is a lot of makers and creators I find on Instagram. It’s such a great tool to discover other creators that make work. I struggle with finding materials as well. It’s mainly online but I want to touch and feel them before getting them.


――What are your future plans?


Money Wang ： I plan to properly launch the necklaces, and do some soft furnishings as well. I plan to start my own studio as well. My work is constantly a mixture of my graphic design and textiles background. I think it really helps having knowledge of both areas.

text Maya Lee (IG)


Money Wang
https://www.instagram.com/mrmoneywang/