5th Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art. Re-Constellations
23 September 2025 - 26 October 2025
Zhejiang Art Museum, Hangzhou, Group exhibition
China
Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art 'Re-Constellations' examines how ancient interpretations of celestial bodies relate to the modern dynamics of globalisation and localisation.
Lucy + Jorge Orta present Archipelago, immense textile maps representing islands and countries of Southeast Asia. The linen canvases are embroidered with nautical lines and compass roses taken from early 17th-century Dutch and British maritime trade maps. The work speaks to the cultural and ecological impact of the transcontinental network of economic and political interests that governed relationships between Asia and Europe, formally the Silk Route. The islands are crafted with textiles originating from South East Asia–Java batik, Chinese jacquard, Japanese prints, Malay embroideries–assembled to simulate imaginary topographies and ornamented with beaded silk flowers. 'Archipelago' offers a poetic and silent plea against environmental degradation caused by overconsumption.
Curators: Shi Hui, Assadour Markarov, Jiang Jun, Huang Yan and Xu Jia