She is a textured, undulating work, spanning three metres wide. To create it, the artist knotted, stitched, folded and pleated numerous pieces of white cotton cloth to form intricate patterns that come together in a massive, cloud-like form.
The sculpture pays tribute to the women who have used these labour-intensive skills for so long. ‘Constant knotting, binding and other specific behaviours unite rationality and sensibility, mind and body,’ Lin says. ‘The individuals, the body, human nature, and expressions of the will and ego are reflected in the actions of hands and the activities of the body.’
Winning the LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize, she says, marks a turning point in her career. ‘I have a new project in Guizhou, China, to study the Dong minority group’s bright, hand-made cloth,’ she says. ‘This award will encourage me to continue to do what I do and strengthen my confidence.’