Weaving & We

Hangzhou, an ancient cultural city and a modern leisure city, is going to usher in the high-profile G20 Summit in 2016, a rare opportunity and a driving force to integrate development from different aspects. On such a grand occasion, the 2nd Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art is to be held jointly by Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture, Publicity Department of CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee and China Academy of Art.

This internationally-famous exhibition is also a high-grade contemporary art brand of Hangzhou, as Hangzhou is home to silk as well as the capital of fiber. The exhibition brings together fiber art works of 60 artists from 20 countries and regions, many of whom are from the participating countries of G20 Summit. The exhibition will present a global conversation from the great dimensions of time and space on the significance of fiber art in terms of its history, humanity, current social practices, the environment, the Internet, and new technology. The world’s attention will be focused in Hangzhou again, and Hangzhou will show the world its unique, profound and charming culture and art.

Weaving & We, the theme of the 2nd Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art, is both the focus of the exhibition and the starting point of creation. Stemming from the origin “weaving,” the exhibits go far beyond what we know of “weaving” in our daily life. The timeliness and repetition of “weaving” symbolize maternal reproductive power that derives from the mother’s original creative source given by nature, and constantly promotes the evolution of human civilization. “Weaving” is by no means a ready-made object, but an ever-changing action and initiative.

As long as there are “human beings,” there will be continuous “weaving.” At the same time, Weaving & We tells the secret of mutual promotion of the technique and the Way. I weave, therefore I am. “I weave” refers to the technique, while “I am” refers to the Way. The Way is in the technique and lies only in the technique. I weave, therefore I am. In this way, it points out the theme that artistic works need to go back to the origin and the essence of life. This event will be divided into four sections featuring curatorial research and artists’ works echoing the theme. The sections are “needles and proverbs,” “body and identity,” “weaving and form,” and “scene and phenomenon.”

The 63 artists from 20 countries taking part in the exhibition are:

Ashim Ahluwalia, Fabio Lattanzi Antinori, Atelier Chen Hao Ru, Victor Asliuk, Rossella Biscotti, Lyn Carter, Yung Ho Chang / FCJZ, Chen Chieh-Jen, Cheng Xiaofang, Céline Condorelli, Alice Creischer, David & Elisabeth Crook, Włodzimierz Cygan, Godfried Donkor, Guo Yaoxian, Eleng Luluan, Maddalena Forcella & Santiago Borja, Jérémy Gobé, Archana Hande, Petter Hellsing, Sheila Hicks, He Xiangyu, Hu Xiaoyuan, Hui Ganyuan, Janis Jefferies, Kimsooja, Maria Lai, Li Lei, Liang Xuefang & Ma Huirong, Liu Beili, Liu Jiajing, Liu Wei, Hew Locke, Claudia Losi, Lu Yuanjiong & Zhou Ping, Anjali Monteiro & K.P.Jayasankar, Oscar Murillo, Numen / For Use, Prabhakar Pachpute, Sudhir Patwardhan, Adelina Popnedeleva, Hans Hamid Rasmussen, Willem de Rooij, Ru Xiaofan, Wojciech Sadley, Ismini Samanidou & Simon Barker, Magda Sayeg, Leang Seckon, Shen Lieyi, Andreas Siekmann, Junko Suzuki, Tan Bin, Hideho Tanaka, Lycia Danielle Trouton, Heidi Voet, Wang Zhipeng & Fu Dongting, Tali Weinberg, The Otolith Group, Pae White, Xu Jiang / Yuan Liujun, Zeng Xiaoyu

“Textile Thinking”: international symposium 
September 26–28
The subject of “Textile Thinking” is the “we” in Weaving & We. This “we” can be craftsmen, artists, manufacturers, collectors, scholars, researchers, philosophers, litterateurs and curators. According to the difference of these subjects, the symposium divides various topics into several groups and aims to illustrate the theme of “textiles” as “thinking” in the view of philosophers, curators, researchers, museum scholars, artists and critics. 

For further information please contact: Li Wen, Liwen@zjam.org.cn / Penny Liu, liupinyu@zjam.org.cn