[Interview] Light and Night x Marie Claire: Sariel - The Gift from Time | 光与夜之恋×嘉人：荷尔蒙炸弹【齐司礼：时间的礼物】

From Alexander McQueen:

William Blake Dante Jackquard Coat

Men's Japanese Cotton Gabardine Trousers in White

From Buccellati:

Ramage Collection: Ramage Button Earrings

Tulle Collection: Mini Tulle Pendant

Macri Collection: Macri Watch

Unica High Jewelry Collection: Oasi Bracelet

Opera Full Pavé Collection: Opera Full Pavé Ring

Off-white oversized coat featuring William Blake's illustrations for Dante's 'Divine Comedy'.

Nature-inspired necklaces and rings with great detail.

The clean cut complemented with its artistic jacquard turned complications into simplicity.

A black turtleneck sweater and pure white cotton trousers exudes both classic and modern temperaments.

The high jewelry on the wrist completes this look with a finishing touch.

- Introduction-

"Trees are differently dense in rain or shine, and flowers also bloom differently in day and night. The gift from time, I've already waited for it."

- Prologue-

There's a quietness from the accumulation of time from Sariel. This is a gift from time, but Sariel does not limit himself within. Through his works of design, not only the rich heritage and classic elegance is seen, you can also feel the pioneering feelings to break through in styling and structure. In comparison to his popular works of design, Sariel rarely shows himself in public. Outside work, he's more willing to spend time in life. Because of the existence of the person by his side, time has yet another meaning to him.

- The Gift from Time-

"Hello, I'm Qi SiLi. I've done a photoshoot for Marie Claire's magazine today. Photography and design are ways to express portrayals. Compared to my past works, the way of expression this time will be more unique." (You can listen to him saying this here)

Has summer been sunny, when shades formed under the greeneries?

The lounge is set at a corner of his courtyard. Sariel hasn't shown the slightest bit of tiredness after ending a full day of photoshoot. He sat on the redwood chair, posture kept upright, and the endlessly connecting mountains are right behind him, where greeneries immersed between the blurry drizzles, just like an ink painting, that you'd be in a trance as though you've traveled back to the past, and have forgotten about the present.

Throughout the conversation with Sariel, you can also feel this form of quietness that transcends time. He's calm whenever he's faced with problems. With merely a few lines in exchange, hit the bullseye and resolve the problems directly. Within his speech, there's a clear ancientness, but there's also the signs of bustling life within. What time has given to Sariel is the heritage of time, and not the muds that have fallen behind time. As how Si Kong Tu* depicts "exquisiteness", where he's "light and unrestrained". Facing vulgarity with fairness, and facing ordinaries with wonders*, there's his unique artistic conception other than his ancientness. Not only this state has been shown through Sariel's works of designs, it's also shown in his attitude towards life and his daily life.

Speaking of the popular new fashion brand at present, Pristine is naturally a topic that will be brought up. As the sub line of Warson, Pristine has quickly achieved its metamorphosis dream, transforming from an unpopular brand to a well-known brand. And the main power that facilitated this transformation, is the design director of Warson, Sariel.

Just as Pristine holds the consistent ideology between fashion and daily lives, Sariel's works blends with the era yet without being constrained to the present trends, with its determination to seek for something new, yet never deriving away from practicality. Through his works of design, not only the rich heritage and classic elegance is seen, you can also feel the pioneering feelings to break through in styling and structure. "Inspiration comes from the sediments of time, but this doesn't mean to only staying in the past, and abandon watching the reality".

To Sariel, time is not only a gift, but it can sometimes be a shapeless shackle.

In comparison to his popular works of design, Sariel rarely shows himself in public. He lives in the mountains far away from the bustling city. Due to the quietness of this place, he can occasionally see small animals running past his door. "There are even times where a clumsy bird would fly into my house for free meals".

When asked about the change that leaves him with the deepest impression compared to the past year, Sariel's answer said that there's now an additional person that performs the new year ritual** with him. What the ritual means is the beginning of a brand new year, with flowers, items of elegance displayed on an indoor table in hopes for an auspicious new year. "It's a habit I cultivated from the past, so I've just simply continued it". There are many ancient sense of ceremony like these from Sariel's life. When he's free, he'll scent his clothing items one by one with white sandalwood incense, and he'll also brew tea and wine with seasonal flowers and fruits.

Sariel's interests and hobbies have also displayed his old school style in comparison to the younger generation. He either spends time to care for his plants, or to watch crosstalk programs. Sariel is recently spending more of his resting hours in the kitchen.

"There's a glutton by my side that would be chirping noisily about wanting to try everything she sees.

*reference from 《二十四诗品》, 《楚辞九歌大司命》.

** specifically 岁朝清供. It's basically having fruits, flowers (sometimes painting) as a offering in a corner of the house for lunar new year.

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Seasonal dishes are always seen from Sariel's timeline. Such as pear blossom brews in spring, osmanthus wine in autumn, there are also homely lotus leaf glutinous chicken, and there are also traditional tangerine crab and epiphyllum cakes. Life blossoms as time passes, and nature takes its form from the depiction of time. From spring to summer, autumn to winter, time changes, so naturally there are different plants and flowers as well. In the records of Sariel's daily life, you can clearly feel the existence and passing of all four seasons.

But Sariel doesn't particularly pay attention to the loss of time, or perhaps in other words, he is purely accepting the flow of time. It's just because of the existence of those around him, that he has naturally paid more attention to the gift from time and the changes around him. "When she's being noisy by my side, time will instead become clear".

Just when Sariel was about to leave, the rain outdoors suddenly poured heavily.

Hearing the noisy sounds of rains, Sariel looks out to the door, pondering thoughtfully. When asked if he's leaving after the rain gets lighter, Sariel waved.

"I'm afraid that a certain someone might have forgotten her umbrella again, I'm going to pick her up."

- Interview -

marie claire: Our collaboration theme is "Hormone Explosion", it's said that everyone's hormone has a different scent, what do you think your hormone scent is?

Sariel: I'm used to scent my clothing with white sandalwood incense, so I'd occasionally have this kind of smile... Hm? I'm not smiling, I just suddenly recalled a certain clumsy bird that doesn't understand the spices of life, that would always chirp around and be noisy, saying that I've scented her design draft papers with the scent of white sandalwood too.

marie claire: Then what's the type of hormone scent that you like?

Sariel: A fragrance of lilies by the waters; the floral scent of white rose, lavender and peony; and the fragrance where the Princess of the Night blooms under the moonlight.

marie claire: If you were to use a poem to describe the hormone response when you have a heartthrob, which would you choose?

Sariel: "The moon doesn't know how softly it shines. It doesn't even know that it's the moon*."

*By Jorge Luis Borges.

marie claire: MBTI tests are very popular recently, do you know what MBTI you are?

Sariel: INFJ. Someone once told me, that those with this personality are usually having both creativity and principles, that they can be down to earth and passionate about chasing their goals, and they are also very sensitive to others' spiritual needs at the same time, that they are proficient to be leaders to others' spiritual worlds. They think that all of these matches me well. I actually don't have feelings like this, but, I'll tentatively trust her in that.

marie claire: Reminiscing the past year, and looking forward to the next year, do you have anything that you'd like to say?

Sariel: To me, the long time is just like a cage, and what constructs this cave is just countless moments of loneliness. Until a clumsy bird clumsily broke it. So, the moonlight pours over the originally barren land along with her arrival. The future, the past, the present, they are just a scale of time. Old days, present moment, year after year, all of these are wonderful terms.

- - -

You can also read Osborn's here, Evan's here, Charlie's here, and Jesse's here!