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Textiles (MA)

Jingyi Cao

Jingyi Cao is originally from a fashion design background, having previously studied Womenswear design at Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts.

She initially chose to study Textiles design at RCA because she wanted to further investigate textiles and materials. During her first year, she discovered CMF Design to be a fascinating discipline.

Nature is the main inspiration for Jingyi's artwork, influenced by different physical and geographical phenomena in the natural world. She wants to bring environmentally friendly and sustainable development into our lifestyle materials

Degree Details

School of DesignTextiles (MA)Soft SystemsRCA2023 at Truman Brewery

Truman Brewery, F Block, First and second floors

self

Many would agree that it is impossible to achieve a clear definition of wabi-Sabi.The meaning of the words "Wabi" and "Sabi" have changed over time.

Nowadays, 'Wabi' refers to simple things, but more in a primary, rough, imperfect, asymmetrical manner, as we find in nature.'Sabi' refers to things touched by time; that show signs of decay or damage. Yes, there is a philosophy behind it, but wabi-sabi is not the philosophy itself. It is an experience: a lucid encounter with existence's transient, imperfect nature.

In this project, I've interwoven the principles of Wabi-Sabi, a philosophy embracing the beauty found in imperfection, into both my materials and final designs. The genesis of this inspiration lies in my travels through Greece, where I was captivated by the remarkable textures and aesthetic designs of seaside stones, a product of the region's diverse mineralogical attributes.

To me, these stones embody the essence of Wabi-Sabi, a paradigm of natural beauty and authenticity. As such, I've elected to use sustainable materials such as discarded oyster shells and marine seaweeds. I meticulously replicated the intricate stone textures and synergized them with knitting methodologies to construct a unique type of brick that additionally provides acoustic insulation.

In my postgraduate journey, my overriding ambition has been to harmonize our everyday lives with the elements of nature. My aspiration is to create an atmosphere wherein individuals, even when ensconced within indoor confines, can perpetually feel enveloped by the arms of nature. I seek to infuse every moment with the tangible and visual intricacies of the natural world, making each interaction an intimate dance between us and our environment.

My vision extends to transforming our living spaces into sanctuaries; spaces where we can hear the hushed whispers of the sea, and the subtle songs of stone. This project epitomizes that vision, a nexus of my travel-inspired revelations and a deep-rooted respect for the Wabi-Sabi ethos - the acceptance and celebration of life's transience and inherent imperfection.















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Knit 🧶 work from Ziwei
Launch Project
Shadow of Decay
Launch Project
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Video

https://youtu.be/NlRBa2a3thk