Showcase

The Ocean Left Its Dead Alive

Lulu Tian

Awards

Profile picture of Lulu Tian

I am a jewellery designer from China with a strong interest in exploring new materials and pushing the boundaries of traditional techniques. My work is driven by experimentation and a desire to discover unexpected outcomes through hands-on making. I enjoy working with both familiar and unconventional processes, aiming to create jewellery that is thoughtful, innovative, and reflective of an evolving relationship between material, form, and wearer.

I am a jewellery designer from China with a strong interest in exploring new materials and pushin...

A transient and growing collection, Lulu’s work creates sustainable and biodegradable pieces using recycled material. Developing her own bio-material from discarded fish scales, Lulu reimagines this biological “waste” into elegant, nautical adornments. Her work is dyed into natural gradients through organic pigments, imitating the natural cycle of life. Using modular forms by slotting sheets of bio-plastic together, Lulu fashions size-inclusive and versatile jewellery. Inspired by aquatic movement, growing corals and swimming plankton, Lulu’s collection merges with the wearer, a partnership between humans and the sea. 

Interpretative text by Otto Johnson, BA (Hons) Culture, Criticism and Curation 

Final work

  • Tri-Tone Bangle in Fish Scale Bioplastic, Dyed with Madder, Walnut, and Brazilwood
  • Madder-Dyed Stud Earrings in Fish Scale Bioplastic
  • Large Chain Necklace in Fish Scale Bioplastic, Dyed with Madder, Walnut, and Brazilwood
  • Weld-Dyed Brooch in Translucent Fish Scale Bioplastic
  • Sorghum-Dyed Bangle in Fish Scale Bioplastic with Rounded End Details
  • Draped Necklace in Fish Scale Bioplastic, Dyed with Indigo, Rose, and Sorghum
  • Interchangeable Brooch in Fish Scale Bioplastic with Flared Ends, Dyed with Indigo, Coreopsis and Sorghum
  • Encircling Hand Ring in Fish Scale Bioplastic, Dyed with Madder, Sorghum, and Coreopsis
  • Indigo and Sorghum-Dyed Ring in Fish Scale Bioplastic with Soft Flared Ends
  • Asymmetric Round Earrings in Fish Scale Bioplastic, Dyed with Rose and Brazilwood in a Subtle Gradient
  • Transparent Bioplastic Ring with Twin Forms, One Cradling a Hidden Brazilwood Core)
  • Bold Choker in Fish Scale Bioplastic, Dyed with Weld

Research and process

  • A moodboard showcasing my research and inspiration from corals, planktons, moss, lichens and seaweed.
  • A page with my fish scale bioplastic making process, starting from cleaning the scales, to boiling, then drying.
  • A page of my material test, where I came across numerous failed samples before achieving the right ratio for my fish scale bioplastic mixture.

Share this project

The Ocean Left Its Dead Alive

A transient and growing collection, Lulu’s work creates sustainable and biodegradable pieces using recycled material. Developing her own bio-material from discarded fish scales, Lulu reimagines this biological “waste” into elegant, nautical adornments. Her work is dyed into na...

A link to this page has been added to your clipboard

Browse related work