Chiu Chi-chin Solo Exhibition [Knowing is Coexistence – Sustainable Weaving]

The theme of this exhibition, "Knowing is Coexistence," is drawn from a viewpoint proposed by the French Catholic poet Paul Claudel (1868–1955) in his work "Poetics" (poétique) published in 1907. He pointed out that the relationship between people is essentially a process from "knowing" to "coexisting."
The artist uses discarded fabric selvages as the primary creative medium. Since 2024, she has held solo exhibitions and sustainable workshops at the National Taiwan Arts Education Center, Chiayi Meiling Art Museum, Tainan Chunyang Art Museum, and Taichung Dadun Cultural Center, using artistic creation to call on the public to reconsider the importance of environmental protection and resource reuse. This exhibition is divided into three parts:
1. The "Cell Division" series of works
2. The "Coexistence" series of works
3. The "Endless Runner" series of works and video creations
The artist's early "Cell Division" installation works, created with elastic fabrics, symbolize the generation of human desires and the primitive state of symbiotic relationships.
In the "Coexistence" series, inspired by the Alishan (阿里山) primeval forest, the artist observed the long-term symbiotic state of various plants clinging to sacred trees for centuries, leading her to contemplate the contemporary situation of environmental change: when we can neither completely eliminate nor easily detach from vast amounts of discarded textiles, nor can we continuously consume energy for recycling and remanufacturing, can we coexist with them in another way? Therefore, the artist proposes weaving as a creative form, enabling discarded textiles to possess both functionality and aesthetic beauty, serving as coexisting objects that can exist within living spaces.
Furthermore, the artist also incorporates bamboo weaving techniques, wrapping discarded fabric weavings around old plastic products, shaping forms resembling living organisms, endowing them with new visual and perceptual experiences, and hoping to guide viewers to reflect on the environmental problems arising from the excessive use of plastic products in contemporary society.
In the new work "Endless Runner," the artist uses a personification approach to create two eyeless unicorn figures woven from discarded fabric selvages: white symbolizing purity and sanctity, blue symbolizing wisdom and peace. Through different forms such as three-dimensional, two-dimensional, and video, the work presents the process of interweaving and merging various expectations and actions within sustainable development.
In response to the spirit of this exhibition, the artist will hold an opening ceremony from 14:00 to 15:00 on June 13, and will host a free sustainable workshop from 15:00 to 18:00 in the afternoon at the Kaohsiung City Cultural Center, Supreme Truth Hall Three. The workshop theme is "Creating Small Daily Items from Discarded Fabric Selvages." The public is welcome to register. There are 40 spots available, first-come, first-served. Registration link:
This exhibition specially thanks the guidance of Feng Chia University and the sponsorship of Da Fang Enterprise Co., Ltd. In recent years, Da Fang Enterprise has actively engaged in sustainable innovation and development, providing discarded fabric selvages free of charge and establishing workshops, regularly training seed teachers and public welfare groups, dedicated to supporting disadvantaged groups domestically and internationally, serving as a quality corporate model for practicing sustainable social responsibility.