Inspiring Impressionists – conversations with designer zeemou zeng

23 Jul 2021

Award winning fine jeweller, Zeemou Zeng, has launched an innovative new marketing campaign to support his third collection - The Impressionists.

Based on conversations with fellow artists, designers and artisans, Zeemou, is running a series of blogs through his monthly customer newsletters and social media. A mix of six designers and creative industry influencers, drawn from very different specialities, discuss the value that the original Impressionists' works contribute to their daily lives today.

All provide illuminating and fascinating content which Zeng has recorded in his journals entitled 'The Influence of Art'.  To a one, they agree that The Impressionists provide a constant vein of creativity and inspiration for modern day designers and yet none have succeeded in bettering these masterpieces.

Zeemou Zeng explains the strategy behind the marketing campaign, 

"The Impressionist artists, Monet, Renoir, Seurat and Manet, broke the rules with their freedom of technique, use of bright colours and bold brushstrokes, to best capture the movement and transient effect of sunlight and colour.  I was inspired by their work to create my Impressionist collection in the spirit of Impressionism.  My intricately crafted pieces are a statement of confidence, hope, freedom and joy. Designed as talismans, they are a reminder of the joy to be found in the pursuit and realisation of the dream. It was a revelation to discover the strength of the Impressionists' influence 100 years on.  Stronger than ever, it drives the creativity of so many of the best new works being designed today. I wanted to share these observations with my industry and followers."

In the Influence of Art, Hilary Alexander OBE, President of the Graduate Fashion Foundation, observes, 

"Art is intrinsic to fashion. Major designers, including Christian Dior, Valentino, John Galliano, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, reference artists or take inspiration from art history whether it be the Old Masters or the Impressionists."  

Clare Garabedian of PJ Studio Accessories, who works with archive collections from British museums  including The Fitzwilliam and The Sir John Soane’s Museum, to create scarves celebrating British heritage said,

"The Impressionists were the trendsetters of their time. Their inspired use of colour is, and always will be, a mood changer." 

Dara Huang, American architect, designer and founder of Design Haus Liberty sums up their powerful influence commenting, 

"It is interesting to see Impressionist influences echoed in modern day design and art today. There are definitely subtle hints in Saerom Yoon’s use of colours in his resin vases and tables and also in Damien Hurst’s Cherry Blossom paintings. But still no one has yet recreated the magic that the original Impressionists achieved."

View the full Impressionist collection

Forthcoming 'Influence of Art' blogs include conversations with florist Hannah Hunnam and well-known Irish potter Claire Finley, culminating in September with the iconic contemporary artist, Andrew Hewkin.

Source: Zeemou Zeng