Woo Hannah
A Smelly Ear 냄새나는 귀, 2024
Fabric, cotton, silicone, thread, beads
21 x 14 x 14 cm
Yeo Workshop is pleased to feature Dinh Thi Tham Poong, Doan Van Toi, Leila Seyedzadeh, Keith Khanh Truong, Lai Thi Dieu Ha, Tra My Nguyen, Woo Hannah, Tran Thao Mien, these eight boundary-breaking artists employ textile, fabric, and weaving as a means to question the construction of our universe and existence. The title, borrowed from an essay by physician Nguyen Tuong Bach, draws on the delicate interplay between quantum physics and Buddhist thought. In his reflection, Nguyen unearths profound yet simple truths: we, as human beings, weave the fabric of our realities much like a sky net—often unaware of our role as creators. Entangled in the intricate webs of our own making, we forget we are their architects, lost in the stories we script and perform.
Works presented evoke a sense of interconnectedness, reminiscent of Indra’s Net, a symbol of boundless complexity where each thread reflects the universe itself. This reference to "Lưới trời Đế Thích" (Indra’s Net) deepens this philosophical inquiry, where each part mirrors and influences the whole, revealing the boundless complexity of existence. This eternal question of reality versus illusion—like the dream-like play we both create and inhabit—remains unanswered, lingering as an open meditation.
In the canon of art history, textile-based creations are commonly relegated to the realm of “craft”—a preposition that Who is Weaving the Sky Net? boldly challenges and transcends. Among the countless controversies of luxury fashion houses, one was accused of copying the innovative work of Vietnamese artist Tra My Nguyen. which had sent shockwaves through both the fashion and art communities. Yet is a powerful reminder that textiles and weaving are not mere ‘crafts’ but fine art forms in their own right, deeply embedded in philosophy, culture, and existential inquiry. Tra My Nguyen’s Bodies (The Lovers) textile-sculpture series in the exhibition reimagines motorcycle garments beyond their original function, gesturing toward a body that exceeds social constructs, transforming into new forms beyond their everyday use. Elsewhere in the exhibition, Iranian artist Leila Seyedzadeh reflects on the enduring ties of heritage and the beautiful complexity of being between worlds through The Landscape of My Voice – East River. She poetically captures her immigrant journey, connecting New York’s East River and Tehran’s Alborz mountains. The intimacy of textiles is omnipresent throughout the exhibition. After discovering that one of her kidneys had shrunk abnormally in 2019, Woo Hannah began a journey of self-exploration through the creation of fabric bags that mimicked the shape of various organs. The resultant fabric sculptures NYX, Nidation and A Smelly Ear come to express the complex feelings of loss and possessiveness.
The artists in Who is Weaving the Sky Net? weave their unique narratives and materials with a shared grace, bridging fabric and life’s delicate interconnectedness, unravelling the many ways we craft, question, and live within the worlds we weave. Through distinct approaches and methods, they engage this age-old inquiry: Are we mere performers in the worlds we weave, or are we their creators? The exhibition in turn forms a testament to the enduring power and resonance of textiles art, and urges a broader conversation about creativity, originality, and the interconnected nature of life.
