OPENING TODAY: THE WHEEL OF TIME, A WALLACE CHAN EXHIBITION AT CHRISTIE'S

September 2023

Wallace Chan

Christie’s The Wheel of Time opens today, the largest exhibition in Europe to date of the exquisite work of Wallace Chan, renowned Chinese jewellery creator, visual artist and innovator. This free exhibition is open to the public, premiering at Christie’s King Street headquarters and open from 4th-10th September 2023. Visitors can expect to see 150 pieces of jewellery and six titanium sculptures, some of which have never before been seen publicly before.

Wallace Chan says: "In the blink of an eye, half a century has flown by. I am humbled by the opportunity to present my largest exhibition in Europe at Christie's in London. My heartfelt thanks go to Christie's for supporting my creative journey throughout the years and across the globe. I am also grateful to my long term collectors for loaning the pieces, without their friendship the exhibition would not be possible. Time is an eternal wheel that rotates for infinity with neither beginning nor end. In the creative process, time is a theme so intangible, yet omnificent."

Brooch - ‘Forever Dancing - Wind’s Tale’

‘The Wheel of Time’ is a metaphor for Chan’s labour-intensive working process, requiring meticulous attention to detail. His art embraces traditional aspects of Chinese aesthetics and a respect for the intrinsic qualities of his working materials, the unique skill employed in carving them, and the element of time involved in their creation. The majority of pieces on display, created during the past half-century, are generously on loan from many of Chan’s major international collectors. This is the fifth Wallace Chan exhibition at Christie’s, following on from shows in Hong Kong (2015, 2019) and Shanghai (2020, 2021).  

An exhibition highlight is ‘Legend of the Colour Black’ (below and cover image), a remarkable black diamond shoulder brooch sculpture. The impressive centre stone of the piece, one of the largest known cut black diamonds in the world, weighs a whopping 312.24 carats. it is surrounded by silver grey diamonds, crystal sapphire, black agate, titanium and the Wallace Chan Porcelain, which is five times stronger than steel - a material Chan has spent years developing.

Shoulder Brooch and Sculpture - ‘Legend of the Color Black’ by Wallace Chan

Mei Y Giam, Christie’s Private Sales Director, Jewellery: “We are delighted to bring Wallace Chan’s imagination to London and present this unique exhibition celebrating five decades of artistic excellence. Our fifth collaboration with Chan reaffirms Christie’s longstanding relationship with the artist, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to the exhibition.”

François Curiel, Chairman, Christie’s Europe: "A deeply philosophical man, Wallace infuses his jewels with Oriental spiritualism. This is the motif which he spends his entire creative life interpreting and reinterpreting, experimenting with endless combinations of gemstones, mediums, styles, aesthetics, and executed in his world-renowned techniques."

Guillaume Cerutti, CEO, Christie's: “Christie’s is committed to supporting great artists and the evolution of their work. We hope collectors and art enthusiasts around the world will be enriched by this rare retrospective of Wallace Chan.”