My great-grandfather saw his life's work taken from him during the Cultural Revolution. A pioneer in repairing old historical architecture, he preserved Chinese history. I was inspired by my grandfather’s architecture firm and his project restoring the decaying Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
This garment pays homage to his legacy. The skirt inspired by roof structures is fragile, soft, and in need of repair. It’s surrounded by bamboo scaffolding – a traditional support system used to support decaying temples – a decades-old practice that I witnessed being continually utilized in China today.
A visual metaphor and a parallel of my family history, my garment leans on the bamboo scaffolding – an ancient yet reliable repairing mechanism for generations to come.
This garment pays homage to his legacy. The skirt inspired by roof structures is fragile, soft, and in need of repair. It’s surrounded by bamboo scaffolding – a traditional support system used to support decaying temples – a decades-old practice that I witnessed being continually utilized in China today.
A visual metaphor and a parallel of my family history, my garment leans on the bamboo scaffolding – an ancient yet reliable repairing mechanism for generations to come.
Support and Repair
2025 / Bamboo, string, paper, ink / 31 x 22 x 15”
illustration