United by my underlying obsession with collecting and the idea of absence are themes of time/mortality and ornament/function. Moving within and without jewellery, I am inspired by the tradition of Victorian sentiment and the history of Memento Mori that is manifest in a contemporary perspective. My work acts as gentle reminders of the presence and surprising proximity of absence. These ideas are an undercurrent for me in creating contemporary, timeless and unique jewellery and objects.

Processes such as breaking, fixing and re-interpreting objects are combined with an element of secrecy, (like the teeth of strangers or a poem in Braille). These methods are integral to my work, which varies from wearable, functional and sculptural. The element of surprise in my work is hidden by unsuspecting and familiar shapes or objects, revealed only at the wearer’s or user’s discretion. I search for beauty and romance in certain truths and uncomfortable places, a means that is empathetic, nostalgic and unsettling.

Throughout history, humankind has had the tendency to symbolize and reflect with material objects important occasions and ideas. With this in mind, I use functional and decorative objects as a common language to engage viewers.

Annie Tung, Toronto, Canada

Education
2009 Wildlife Taxidermy Sessions with Richard Davis, through University of Western Ontario, London.
2003-2007 Bachelor of Design, Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD), Toronto.
2002-2003 Completed Arts One Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

Collections:
In private collections: Gordon Peteran, Sueh Haga, Henry Jesionka, Nicholas Cartel, Scott Laughton.

Exhibitions (selection)
2010 TBC, Art-Mûr Gallery, Montreal. (upcoming, invite, group) | TBC, Distill, Toronto. (upcoming, invite, group) | Ontario Crafts Council Award Winners, Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto. (juried) | Eros from Chaos, Lafreniѐre & Pai Gallery, Ottawa.(forthcoming, invite, group) | Schmuck 2010, 62nd Internationale Handwerksmesse Munich, Germany. (forthcoming, juried, group) | Radiant Dark: Assets and Values, curated by MADE, Toronto. (juried, group)
2009 Contemporary Canadian Jewellery: The 22nd Annual Exhibition, Lafreniѐre & Pai Gallery, Ottawa.(invite, group) | Ontario Craft ’09, Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto. (juried, group) | Nuit Blanche, Things Fall Apart by Kathy Bischoping, Laluque Atelier Gallery, Toronto. (invite, group) | Unity and Diversity, Canadian Pavilion of the Cheongju International Craft Biennale, South Korea. (juried, group) | Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto. (juried) | Ontario Crafts Council Award Winners, Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto. (juried) | The 2nd Commitment Ring Exhibition: Freedom, Lafreniѐre & Pai Gallery, Ottawa. (invite, group) |  Decorative Resurgence, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey. (juried, group) | Radiant Dark: Elegant Corruptions, curated by MADE, Toronto. (juried, group) | Come Up To My Room, collaboration, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto. (juried, group, collaboration) | Gone Hunting, collaboration with Einav Mekori, Studio Works, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
2008 Disparate Unity, Studio Works, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.(group) | The Pendant Show, Velvet da Vinci Gallery, San Francisco. (invite, group) | Object Toronto with Galerie Noel Guyomarc'h, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto.(invite, group) | Toronto International Art Fair with Prime Gallery, Toronto. | integrate assimilate, new gallery, Toronto. (group) | Update, Craft Artist-in-Residence Biennial Exhibition, York Quay Gallery & Ontario Craft Council, Toronto.(group)
2007 Ontario Craft ’07, Ontario Crafts Council, Toronto. (juried, group) | Empty Chairs, Studio Works, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto (solo). | Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto. (juried) | Come Up To My Room: Souvenir Shop w/ Motherbrand, Gladstone Hotel, Toronto. (invite) | Sex Pots II, Prime Gallery, Toronto. (invite)
2006 Small Talk: Miniature Fibre Show, OCAD Student Gallery, Toronto (travelled Canada until 2008). (juried, group) | Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto. (juried) | Omnia Vanitas, OCAD Student Gallery, Toronto and Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax. (juried, group) 

Prizes, awards and grants
2010 The Women’s Association of the Mining Industry of Canada Scholarship, Ontario Crafts Council | Visual Arts: Emerging Grant, Ontario Arts Council | Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2009 Honourable Mention for Love Spoons, Ontario Craft09, Ontario Crafts Council. | Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Arts Council. | Travel Grant to attend Cheongju International Craft Biennale, South Korea, Ontario Crafts Council. | Tommia Vaughan-Jones Award for Excellence in Metal Arts, Ontario Crafts Council, | Project Grant, Ontario Arts Council | Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2008 Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2007 new gallery emerging artist award with Monica Bodirsky & Margaret Lim. | 2007-present Harbourfront Full-Time Artist Residency, Toronto.
2006 Imperial Smelting & Refining Co. of Canada Metal Prize | Harbourfront Summer Residency, Metal. Toronto.
2005 Harbourfront Summer Residency, Metal. Toronto. | Gesswein Canada Student Prize. 

Professional experience
2007- present Studio Assistant gold and silver-smith, Erin Tracy Designs, Toronto.
2009 Guest lecturer, Ontario College of Art & Design, Toronto. | Crocheting for the Fearless workshop w/ Felieke van der Leest (Netherlands), Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
2008-2010 Jewellery Instructor, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto. 

Memberships
Klimt02 | Ontario Crafts Council | Society of North American Goldsmiths

2010 Rings, Promopress, Barcelona, Spain. (upcoming) | Schmuck 2010, exhibition catalogue, 62nd Internationale Handwerksmesse Munich, Germany. (forthcoming)
2009 Studio Magazine, Fall/Winter, ”Ontario Craft at the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale”, Canada. | Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Unity & Diversity exhibition catalogue, South Korea. | 500 Plastic Jewelry Designs, Lark Books, USA. |Decorative Resurgence, exhibition catalogue, Glassboro, New Jersey.
2007 500 Wedding Rings, Lark Books, USA. | Ornamentvm, Canadian Society of the Decorative Arts, Spring, Toronto. | Material Art & Design Thesis Catalogue, MacDougall and Pollard, Toronto.

Noel Guyomarc'h, Montreal
Lafreniere Pai Gallery, Ottawa
Bounty, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
Distill, Toronto.
Pimlico Design Gallery, Toronto.
MADE Design, Toronto.