We are social animals, and to be accepted as members of a group, we have to watch what we say.

The words "good", "cool" or "interesting" are sometimes, almost always, empty phrases.
People are always saying nice words to be polite and avoid embarrassment in company. So it may be disappointing and bitter when you realise that the good words you have been told are not true.

In some situations, we humans are forced to be friendly and hide our true thoughts, especially in politics or in public, because critical or negative words are not readily heard and honesty sometimes gets us into trouble.

My work shows the pressure I bow to in a social environment by being "nice" and the discomfort I feel when I hear false compliments.

Nga China Ko was born and raised in Hong Kong. In 2014, she graduated in Jewellery Design from the Hong Kong Design Institute and one year later completed a Bachelor's degree in Jewellery and Metalworking at Sheffield Hallam University. After working in the diamond industry for three years, she completed a Master's degree in Gemstone and Jewellery Design at Trier University of Applied Sciences, Idar-Oberstein Campus. She was honoured with a Marzee Graduate Award for her thesis "Inclusion" at the Marzee Graduate Show 2021.