Cloud and Wind series

Metal

400 × 140 × 290 cm

2021

Speaking of weaving, I must mention a Bulgarian artist, Maryn Varbanov, from whom I’ve got lifelong benefits. Varbanov's tapestry studio was next to the office of the Sculpture Department, and I used to help Mr. Varbanov with his works at night. His selection and usage of materials had a great influence on me, and I started to grow fond of soft sculpture and weaving at that time. Before creating this work, I tried to weave with bamboo strips, but they are very unstable and deform easily, so I thought of using stainless-steel strips instead of bamboo ones. This substitution of material seems to be guided by Mr. Varbanov's idea that goes, "Change the original characteristics of the material." The weaving of stainless-steel strips renders the originally hard metal soft and gentle, bringing a modern touch to the artwork. Countless small folded surfaces reflect the light and history, revealing the poetic nature of Jiangnan. This poetic spirit full of humanism is exactly what I have been pursuing and aiming to express. Thanks to the built-in light, the mixture of reflection and luminescence creates an artistic blur, offering the audience an intertwined picture of reality and future. A kind of contemporary oriental beauty then slowly flows out.