Titanium is a light-weight metal which is difficult to shape and cannot be soldered, annealed or reworked. Since the second half of the 20th century, this material has been used for studio jewellery for its ability to create rainbow-like colours after a process called anodisation, a controlled oxidation of the metal. Aka Chen was the first to work with titanium in jewellery making in Taiwan, where the material had been predominately used for automotive and medical purposes. His brand AKACHEN dedicates to the design of jewellery using a combination of titanium and precious stones.

The ‘Zen series’ is inspired by Aka Chen's daily mediation exercise as a devoted Buddhist. The series takes inspirations from nature and aims to represent Zen metaphors and the power of nature. Each set is presented as a display, mimicking aesthetics of Chinese painting, while the main components have built-in mechanism which transforms the pieces into wearable jewellery such as a brooch and earrings when taken down from the mount. Through this series the artist combines sculpture, installation and jewellery, redefining jewellery design for the 21st century.