An interview with Shing Lee, Argentum

Driven by unbridled passion and a desire to be free from the shackles of a deskbound job, Shing Lee started Argentum in 1994. Some 14 years down the road, Shing remains steadfast to her belief that jewellery should be an extension of one’s self and not vacuous decoration worn mindlessly.

Shing hand crafts each piece of design and dictates her own trend in the fickle world of jewellery. Characterised by shells, rubber, lace, and bone on silver, Shing continues to push the envelope of unconventionality with the release of each collection.

Better known as bodily adornments than accessories, Shing’s designs are easily spotted on the street and have drawn appeal from all. In this entry, we attempt to pry deeper into the life of this Central Saint Martins and LaSalle-SIA trained jeweller.

WeFew: I’ve read that you graduated from Central Saint Martins back in 1994 and called it quits after 3 days of drawing in a jeweller firm. What made you quit and how did that lead you to where you are today with Argentum?
SL: When I worked for this company, all I did was sit at my desk and draw different arrangements of gemstones for rings etc... I simply couldn’t deal with the tedium. Then I realised I had to carve a niche for myself if I wanted to make my personal creations.

WeFew: When you were first starting off, who did you seek advice from?
SL: My close friends gave me lots of encouragement to start Argentum, and I did it, without realising what the business entails!

WeFew: How would you describe your artistic style and how has it developed over time?
SL: Well, it’s hard to pin down. I suppose it would be perceptibly handmade with an unfinished finish. Over time I have introduced more materials like rubber, lace, bone etc to the silver pieces, but the style and spirit remain the same.

WeFew: Which of your works is of special meaning to you?
SL: Every collection has a special meaning for me as it reflects what I was going through in my life at that point in time.

WeFew: What is your creative process from concept through to finished piece?
SL: First I think about what I want to say with the collection and gather possible materials. Ideas float around in my head for days or even weeks, some taking more concrete shape while others get discarded. Then I get on my workbench and start translating the final ideas by hammering them out into bodily adornments. New ideas also materialise through the crafting process, one piece may lead me to the next somewhat by instinct.

WeFew: What is your outlook of the design industry in Singapore?  How have you seen it evolve through the years that you’ve been involved and where do you see it going?
SL: Singapore has been putting in great effort to foster design in the recent years, which creates wonderful opportunities for budding and veteran designers in the country. There are definitely more Singaporean designers now than ever before. But I think we are still in the nascent stage of churning out international designs. I do hope for a future of design-conscious Singaporeans who appreciate the value of beautiful things, and are willing to pay for them.

WeFew: How has Singapore inspired your work?
SL: To be honest, it’s rather difficult to get inspired here. I do a lot of travelling and the air out there is fresher!

WeFew: You been in this business for 14 years now, what are your future plans for Argentum?
SL: To keep doing what I do.

WeFew: Is there any advice you would like to give our designers who are just starting out in their careers?
SL: Persevere, persevere, persevere.

WeFew: National Day is just round the corner, is there anywhere in Singapore that holds special meaning to you? Where and why?
SL: My home and studio tucked away in the west...because it suits my hermit lifestyle.

Argentum's growing list of stockists include The Pineal Eye in London, Gigantic Brand in New York, Ulf Haines in Berlin, HPFrance in Tokyo, Marijuana in Hong Kong and both Club 21 Men and BlackJack in Singapore.