Jen Stones

Jen Hung, originally from Taiwan, studied art history at University but had never carved stone until attending Tai Poutini Polytechnics jade and hard stone carving course in 2004.

Jen loves listening to classical music when carving: As I listen to music and draw, I can see the flowing lines. The music inspires me. Other inspiration comes from Maori art, the New Zealand bush, scenery and the natural environment. Her art echoes the abstracted shapes of plants, water currents and landforms.

Even the smallest carved stone work takes many hours to craft, but Jen cannot put a time on how long any one piece took her to make, designing, then grinding and polishing in her home workshop before plaiting the string. When you are making these, you are not thinking about value or time. You are just thinking how to make it beautiful.