IN CONVERSATION WITH Zhang Hongyang
Boundless visions
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Zhang Hongyang
Ancient techniques meet contemporary freedom. Zhang Hongyang, the acclaimed artist born in Suzhou in 1988, moves fluidly between these two worlds. After rigorous training in traditional Chinese painting, she specialized in landscape art. Today, her works are showcased in prestigious institutions, such as the Shanghai Yuanqu Gallery. For the 2026 Chinese New Year, she collaborated with Marcolin to create a piece inspired by the zodiac animal symbol of the year: the Fire Horse.
What does this symbolic animal of 2026 represent?
«With the arrival of the Chinese New Year, this steed charges forward. It carries the clarity of a new vision and the boldness of a new style—a momentum infused with power and grace. But it is when art meets craftsmanship that inspiration truly takes shape: together with Marcolin, we created a steed called ‘New Vision.’ From a single brushstroke to a fully realized frame, from concept to product, this is not just the birth of eyewear—it is an aesthetic journey that begins in the Year of the Horse».
Your works convey both immense energy and meticulous study. Do you see parallels with a designer’s work?
«A painting always starts with a single line of inspiration, evolving into a considered form and only completed when its spirit emerges. A new Marcolin frame follows the same path: precisely sculpted, imbued with character, and finished with soul. It is an artifact of vision, both literal and figurative. Eyewear design and artistic creation share the same essence: creativity as foundation, craftsmanship as structure. In painting a horse, a single precise stroke can define the clarity of its gaze, while a splash of ink captures the drive of its gallop. This mirrors the craft of eyewear, where the design of components, executed with millimetric precision, coexists with the intuitive hand-sculpting of curves».
How can the choice of material influence the final outcome?
«When selecting canvases, pigments, or inks, the material itself—for instance, the absorbency of rice paper or the texture of oil paint—deeply shapes the expressive result. The same applies to eyewear design: the choice of materials, from acetate to metal to innovative bio-based compounds, defines the tactile quality and user experience of the object».
