ART CORNER Special Feature | NOKE MALL, Taipei
kim-a: 999.9 Gold Blocks Exhibition — Where Gold Becomes Playable Art
At the crossroads of luxury and imagination, kim-a: turns pure gold into a new language of contemporary art and style.
The avant-garde gold brand kim-a: recently unveiled its limited exhibition at NOKE Taipei by Fubon Aesthetics, inviting visitors to experience the brand’s signature 999.9 pure gold blocks up close.
The showcase allows collectors and design enthusiasts alike to explore the intricate craftsmanship, texture, and creative potential of gold — redefining its role in modern living.
Breaking away from traditional perceptions of gold as a static symbol of wealth, kim-a: brings its concept of “playable gold” into a lifestyle setting, merging art, collectibility, and personal expression.
The installation presents gold as something to be touched, played with, and worn, reflecting a new aesthetic dialogue between luxury and daily life.
Where Craft Meets Concept
Founded in 2024, kim-a: draws upon four decades of family goldsmithing heritage, infusing it with a contemporary design perspective.
Its debut release — a limited collection of 999 sets of 999.9 pure gold blocks — transforms gold from a conventional investment asset into an object of artistic curiosity and rarity.
“Most people think of gold as something locked away — secure, but lifeless,” shares Anli, kim-a:’s Brand Strategy Manager. “We want gold to be alive, to be played with, to become part of one’s lifestyle — something that sparks joy and individuality.”
The brand’s collaboration with NOKE’s Art Corner aligns perfectly with this philosophy, presenting gold not as distant luxury, but as a dynamic artistic medium that invites interaction and imagination.
A Dialogue Between Gold and Art
Designed around themes of closeness and interactivity, the exhibition dismantles the formality often associated with both art and gold.
The centerpiece — the 999.9 Gold Block Collection — features individually numbered pieces, each verified by a secure encrypted guarantee card.
Beyond static display, the blocks can be paired with brass accessories to be reassembled into earrings, pendants, or bracelets — letting collectors express their mood or style through modular creativity.
“This isn’t just a display of beautiful objects,” says Anli.
“We wanted people to feel gold — to approach it, to imagine it as part of their lives. The exhibition has a relaxed, lifestyle-driven energy, free from the stiffness of traditional showcases.”
Some collectors have gone even further — combining kim-a: blocks with LEGO elements to create hybrid sculptures, or turning them into signature charms for bracelets.
“We see this as an open laboratory,” Anli adds. “It’s not about observing from afar; it’s about participating — about discovering the warmth between art and gold.”
Redefining Gold’s Cultural Value
At its core, kim-a: stands for Absolute Authenticity — a promise of purity and integrity, but also a mindset toward genuine, lasting value.
“The worth of gold isn’t only in its weight,” says Anli, “but in the meaning it carries — honesty, trust, emotion.
Our gold blocks aren’t just collectible items; they are extensions of one’s personality.”
Each piece comes with an NFC Guarantee Card that also functions as a membership key, granting early access to new collections, private events, and even collaborative opportunities with designers for bespoke creations.
“We want gold to be more than an asset — we want it to carry warmth, meaning, and connection.”
From a cultural perspective, kim-a: seeks to reinterpret gold for a new generation — transforming it into an object of play, art, and self-expression.
Anli notes that in a time of global uncertainty, tangible and scarce materials like gold are regaining attention, while younger audiences seek sustainability and individuality.
“Our pieces are both valuable and alive,” she continues. “Young collectors are giving them as gifts to family abroad — letting the next generation experience gold not as an investment, but as a story worth cherishing.”
“The real challenge,” Anli reflects, “is balancing artistry with authenticity — to combine gold’s intrinsic value with cultural relevance and emotional resonance.
We don’t want gold to merely look beautiful; we want it to mean something.
It’s about transforming tradition into a new kind of cultural object — one that carries design, craftsmanship, and soul.”
Market Vision and Taiwan’s Gold Innovation
kim-a:’s market strategy is built on exclusivity and scarcity, currently partnering with select jewelers and galleries across northern, central, and southern Taiwan — each region limited to no more than ten authorized retailers.
“Many second-generation jewelers want to modernize their family businesses but lack design or branding resources,” says Anli.
“We aim to co-create exclusive collaborations and branded collections with them, helping to reimagine Taiwan’s gold craftsmanship as a medium of cultural storytelling.”
Toward an International Art Movement
Looking ahead, kim-a: is expanding into North America, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Seoul, with a major art initiative planned for late 2025.
The project will feature three to four gold-based art installations in collaboration with international brands and artists — some of which may later appear in global auctions.
“This isn’t just about commerce,” Anli emphasizes. “It’s about interpreting gold as a cultural medium — conveying the spirit of our time through a material that’s both ancient and eternal.”
While the Chinese-speaking market continues to view gold primarily as a safe investment, kim-a: hopes to reshape that mindset through international exposure. “We want people to see gold as something fun, expressive, even playful. It’s not about chasing trends — it’s about finding your own language through it.”
kim-a:’s mission is not only to redefine gold, but to express a way of living — one that bridges tradition and innovation. “Gold is finite,” Anli smiles, “but its possibilities are infinite.
Through it, we want to tell the stories of our time.”
Exhibition Information
Duration: Now through September 30, 2025
Location: NOKE Mall Taipei, Dazhi District, Taipei
(Written for Tatler Taiwan.)