CHINESE BOND, 2020Unfired ceramic clay | 59.7 x 50.8 x 8.1 cm (23.5 x 20 x 3.2 in)
CHINESE BOND is an unfired clay sculpture resembling a Chinese knot. With the act of construction by the artist and the fragility of unfired clay, CHINESE BOND examines the shared Chinese culture between Taiwan and China as well as their weaving relationship throughout history.
A Chinese knot is a decorative handicraft art prevalent in both Taiwanese and Chinese culture as a good-luck charms given during Lunar New Year celebration. Usually made from silk and in the color red, the knot is made of an arrangement with two cords entering from the top of the knot and two cords leaving from the bottom.
The seemingly unified form of a clay string is a result of deliberate fabrication and fixing of clay after its breaking. The “memory” of building and rebuilding holds in the clay itself and adds tension to the structure, creating an unstable state for firing.
