Som (Xiong) Luong
15.01.1983
Sydney, Australia
Summary
2001: BA Design, College of Fine Arts UNSW (incomplete)
2003-2005: Silversmithing and jewellery making, Ashfield Community College
2011-2016: Jewellery making, Pine St Creative Arts Chippendale
2016-2021: Self practice
2022 - Current: Resident artist, Square Peg Studios, Marrickville NSW.
Exhibitions
Collector's Choice 2017, Artsite Gallery Sydney
Resident Jewellers’ exhibition 2024, Square Peg Studios, Marrickville NSW
PROFILE 2025: JMGA-NSW Contemporary Jewellery and Object Award Exhibition 2025, FINALIST, Darlinghurst NSW
Som Luong’s fingers, neck and the rest of his body as he walks the streets of Newtown, current
stockists
Commissions
2018, Three jewels
2017, Sailor ring
2017, Squish studs
2016, Thumb print ring
2016, Ella earrings
2022, Amoghasiddi
Summary
Som was introduced to silversmithing at Sydney's College of Fine Arts in the early 2000s. At that time, he really wanted to become a jeweller, but his working class father and his internalised working class voice said 'No'.
However he kept practising his craft for over 20 years and is now ready to show his work to the world. Som enjoys the process of creating beautiful jewellery; every cut, every solder, every file mark is done with an awareness of and respect for the part it plays in forming each hand-made piece.
His current interest is in creating jewellery that reflects his Buddhist practice and his exploration of his South-East Asian heritage - pieces that are imbued with a spiritual quality as well as being playful and enjoyable to wear.
Eternally playful and part old sage, Som cannot help but question, wonder, philosophise and see the humour in the world around him (that’s when he is at his best anyway. Catch him on a not so great day and he is way too serious about things!)
For Som, jewellery making is more than just an art practice. It’s also about reclaiming and honouring the creativity he once pushed aside. Som delights in the fact that his hand made precious objects will outlast him. Objects that are his ideas, philosophies and values made solid.
Finally, he is coming to understand why his father said what he said about being a jeweller and an artist and is finding a balance between practicality, creativity, spirituality and fun.
My magical lair overseen by the Bodhisattva Manjushri, who is traditionally the patron deity of all the arts and sciences. Fun fact: Many of the tools you see before you were tools that once belonged to my dad xx