Air

“In my village in Yunnan on the border with Tibet, I often saw mothers and grandmothers embroidering under the big tree in front of the village, symbol of life,” recalls the artist. They were there to show and share their skills and creations. As a result, Chen grew up surrounded by patterns and colored threads. She would often play with other children around this place. “Sometimes we heard about legends, flowers, birds, animals, and ethnic symbols. Sometimes, the tree would be the focal point of a glorious, colourful community ritual with the space and the people beautifully decorated.” These memories of ‘happiness’ that date back to the artist’s childhood became her first source of inspiration for art. “Today, after living in France for 16 years, I myself have become a mother. I felt the loss of this primitive human culture. I wanted to restore this technique and bring it back to life by finding it a place in our everyday. I hope that this artistic expression has no boundaries between 'Traditional’ and 'Contemporary’. I hope that these two spaces can complement and nourish each other.”

280 hours of hand embroidery Silk thread, cotton fabric

120 x 110 cm