"Olympian Offerings” Contemporary Jewelry by Lily Yung Exhibition review by Heidi Bergstrom, Curator/Director, Durham Art Gallery Published in The Durham Chronicle, Wednesday, September 18,1996

On exhibition from September 18 to October 20, 1996 is the work of award-winning artist Lily Yung. This body of work, broadly titled "0lympian Offerings" features one-of-a-kind jewelry that transcends one's notion of the nature and the potentially mythic connotations of bodily ornamentation. Yung has literally woven an intricate pattern of highly aesthetic mythology, igniting the imagination with each titled piece. One is drawn into the myth of the ancient Greek Gods and Heroes through a pair of bracelets titled “Vambraces for Athena" or the necklace "Aurora's Tears" and again with "Eros Gauntlet".

The artist is inviting us to go back into this mythical time through an unexpected route, but perhaps one which is closest to the body than any other, that of the body ornament. In her artist's statement Yung says: "For the past two years I have been exploring a technique of suspending glass beads with fine metal wires”. This method of working is very similar to lace making and some of the resulting pieces are more akin to garments than traditional jewelry. The pieces are inspired by and dedicated to the deities and heroes of Greco-Roman mythology, which has been the subject of many wonderful works of art throughout history. In keeping with this theme each piece is shown in conjunction with an image of the classical representation of the deity or hero to whom the piece is dedicated. This image is accompanied by a description of the associated legend.

Born in Hong Kong, Lily Yung came to Canada for graduate studies. After completing her Ph.D. in immunology at the University of Alberta, she worked in Germany for a short period. On her return to Edmonton, she began to study printmaking and painting at the University of Alberta. In 1983 she moved to Toronto to pursue her art full-time and started working at Open Studio's printmaking facilities. Since 1988 this multi-talented artist has been actively designing and making award-wining jewelry. Among her awards she has received the Ontario Craft Council's Jewelry Award in 1995 and was an award winner at the Ontario Craft Works Central Region Show. Recently she has received grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council to continue her investigation of open work textile techniques using metal wire and beads.

The artist will be present at the opening Saturday, September 21, 1996 from 2-4 p.m. All Welcome. The Durham Art Gallery is located at 251 George St. E., Durham. Hours are: Wed 9 a.m. to.8 p.m. Thursday/Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 am to 4 p.m. and Sunday l2 noon to4pm. For more information contact the gallery at (519) 369-3692.

Published in the Lola, 1998