Material Histories is a series of unique works that embody artist Emily Xie’s focus on texture and abstracted mythological motifs, bringing them together for the first time with tactile, handmade embroidery.
The series unites computational artistry and textile-based artisanship – two fields that have been historically intertwined, and whose intersections are a consistent theme within Xie’s work. The contrast between her digital processes and this tangible media accentuate the cultural tension found between the virtual and the material, while proving that they can complement each other in powerful ways.
Each piece in this series represents one of the six elements between eastern and western cultures: earth, wood, metal, fire, water, and air. This distillation of nature into form is uniquely evocative of ancient stories around the elements, bringing a sense of strength and lore to each artwork fed from Emily Xie’s native abstraction.
Material Histories series exercises the timeless practice of imbuing the natural elements with the character of myth, and the works are ultimately stitched into fabric the same way as some of the earliest creations in human history. The process for this series starts with a computer algorithm written by the artist to evoke fluid, multi-textural organic forms. Outputs from this generative code are then fed into an artificial intelligence model to produce thousands of images, from which Xie collages fragments, molding and distilling them to create hybrid digital-born images. Lastly, these digital works are closely translated by woven artisans over the course of eight months into a limited set of hand embroidered canvas artworks, each stretched and floated within exquisite hand joined black-stained oak frames.
The artworks of Material Histories are the first by Emily Xie that venture into bespoke physical materials, using the historical techniques and vernacular of Asian textiles that have inspired her work for years, and giving each piece the calm but powerful personality of an elemental force of nature.
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Material Histories
2024
Hand embroidered stretched canvas, 48 x 36 in. (#1-2) or 20 x 15 in. (#3-6) with solid handmade oak wood float frame, signed on verso.
Each token represents the ownership over the unique, original framed embroidered canvas, to be claimed by the token holder, with shipping at additional cost. Upon resale on the secondary market, the original shall be shipped to the new owner. The receiver of the work will cover shipping costs.