Qiān Jīn: Yi 乙, 2024
Crocheted and melted nylon
52cmH x 20cmW
This vase is part of the installation Qiān Jīn, featuring 4 vases inspired by ceramic glaze and the willow-leaf shaped vase. They are named after the first 4 of 10 Celestial Stems, the ancient Chinese ordinal system.
This vase features an openwork pattern, inspired by those found in celadon ceramics. The vase is double-walled, with a conjoined core controlling the amount of light seen through the gaps. Only a hint of deeper red creeps in from the mouth and base.
The delicate openwork takes on a glossy look that looks amazingly similar to ceramic glaze. The rings on the openwork have melted in varying degrees, producing some that have split to reveal soft nylon on the inside, held in by webs of glossy nylon. The contrast of the deforming rings to the soft nylon surface is especially strong in this vase. The darker inner layer is revealed, forming a dark backdrop for the textures on the outer surface.