Atelier V&F
Atelier V&F was co-founded by Chen Furong and Vega Zaishi Wang. Their professional background and artistic upbringing shape the character of Atelier V&F. Its work tries to break the divide of territories and cultures, with an inclusive narrative to interpret aesthetics and functionality. The two designers’ poetics of life and living, their respect for different materials’ true nature, and their unceasing pursuit of exquisite craftsmanship instill vitality into Atelier V&F’s works — from artistic sculptures, installations, and spaces to practical and utilitarian objects. As a married couple, Vega and Furong’s collaborative works embrace the non-utilitarian and pure beauty, and are thus emotionally powerful.
Interview
I come from Zhangzhou, a coastal city in southern China, where I grew up by the sea.
Vega is from Dandong, a city in northern China near the border with North Korea. We come from very different cultural backgrounds.
I loved drawing since I was a child, constantly and endlessly. That was the freest period of my artistic experience.
Yes, I have. I’m good at working independently. After graduation, I founded my own studio and launched a lighting brand called WUU. Later, I established Atelier V&F, focusing on sculptural design objects. In both directions, I’ve been exploring the boundaries and possibilities of design.
After graduating, I curated an exhibition with a friend. We drove over 10,000 kilometers along eastern China in a van, seeking out marginal creators and documenting their stories. They created in such a direct way, without needing to be understood by others, simply doing what they loved. That deeply moved me. Since then, I’ve pursued pure creation, hoping to also be someone who simply creates what they love.
I’m full of ideas—often narrative in nature. Inspiration can come from mythology or something as ordinary as a messy streetlight pole. I’m good at blending the figurative and the abstract into a new object in my mind. My works are often spiritual—romantic, poetic, gentle yet powerful.
My day is divided into two parts. One is drawing—whether it’s concept sketches or abstract paintings, I draw every day. It calms me and helps capture fleeting ideas. The other part involves hands-on making and handling everyday affairs.
I now use many materials that express a handcrafted feeling, because material is the first visual language of a piece. Even the same material can be expressed in many ways. I try to convey my emotions and narratives through the unique treatment of materials. Often, I spend a lot of time finding the right technique or surface finish for a specific work—it’s the most time-consuming and iterative part of the process.
I’m very free with techniques. As a product designer, I collaborate with Vega—she’s a fashion designer and brings conceptual freedom from her field. We work with skilled artisans using hand-cast metals, special surface treatments, raw textiles, and stones. We’re good at combining different materials to enhance the storytelling of our works.
If you have a good idea—get your hands moving!
I’m still jumping across multiple dimensions, so I don’t quite fit into a single category. My work is both romantic and poetic, yet also carries a rational, industrial side.
Ronan Bouroullec, Vincenzo De Cotiis, Rick Owens.
Jerome Pereira, EWE Studio.
Ding Yi, Enric Mestre, Park Seo-Bo.
Poetry.
Thank you to Gallery Philia for the interview.
“Material is the first visual language of a piece.”
The Questions
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)
Being with my family.
The deep sea.
Procrastination.
Greasiness.
David Hockney.
A month of silence in the studio, away from all calls.
Positive and optimistic.
Obedience.
Gentleness.
Strength.
Let me think.
The ability to carve time out of time.
Procrastination.
Becoming a parent.
A rabbit.
Rome.
My daughter.
A long goodbye.
Sculptor.
Calmness.
Rational understanding.
Yukio Mishima.
Orlando.
Siddhartha.
Those who make great vows.
Harper (my daughter’s name).
People with hidden agendas.
That a day only has 24 hours.
To quietly leave, surrounded by flowers.
Everything will be resolved in time. (Very Chinese)
“If you have a good idea—get your hands moving!”
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