YangMiao is an artist based in Beijing, China. She studied painting since 5 years old. In 2021, She was graduated from the Glasgow School of Art (BA Hons). She has created a series of works based on "plum blossom shadow". There are drawings and jewellery. From painting to making jewellery is she enjoys the way of creation. Speaking of creation, She always looks forward to returning to a state of tranquillity inside, which can make her quietly experience the world and feel relaxed and free, and it is also a time of inspiration comes. For her, creation originated from the feeling of life and the tracing of consciousness. Creation itself has no clear boundaries. The creation is about life, feeling, and consciousness. In the same way, for painting, what is painted is life, is feeling, is consciousness.

Plum blossom (Prunus mume) or méihua, features prominently in Chinese visual and material culture. Its seasonal displays of blossom are important signifiers of resilience and perseverance, particularly in difficult circumstances. Therefore, this body of work, created during the pandemic, refers to plum blossom as a marker of optimism for the future.

The designs presented here reflect each season of the plum blossom, and are translated from abstract personal visions into a form of visualisation that wearers and viewers might recognise and enjoy. Included in the collection are jewellery pieces that parallel the four seasons and ‘plum shadows’ associated with traditional Chinese freehand plum blossom painting. To explore the range of colours and textures identified with plum blossom, the materials used here included, paints, resin, paper models and metals.