100 Points Choker by Zhangchi Shen
Title: 100 Points Choker. Copper, sterling silver, garnet, resin, magnet. Tube setting, 2 x 6 x 6, 2026.
This work is a choker featuring two movable puzzle pieces that slide along the necklace. Each puzzle piece is inlaid with a full-score symbol filled with colored resin. The clasp consists of two metal tubes with concealed magnets inside. Gemstones are set at the ends of the tubes, integrating the fastening mechanism into the overall design. The work addresses educational issues in East Asia, particularly the culture of meritocracy and academic achievement. The emphasis on grades as the primary measure of value can become a constraint that shapes and limits individual lives. By defining success through a single standard, it narrows personal choices and encourages people to follow predetermined paths rather than pursuing their own directions.
