Leah Liu
My work explores the organic shapes found in the natural world, such as stone. Stones are objects that remind me of the passage of time. I find that no stone is identical to others—the irregularity of forms and the imperfection of the surface show what a stone undergoes through the years. The wabi-sabi aesthetic appreciates the imperfection and impermanence of things which inspired me throughout my process. I created a knotted sculpture to represent stacked stones, highlighting their transient and imperfect nature. The primary material for my sculpture is paper band. Using a constructed technique that requires repetitive action comes from how a stone is formed gradually over time. The hand-knotting process corresponds to how stones are created naturally and irregularly, just like what happens when hands are involved in the making process. My work aims to create an atmosphere where people can accept imperfection and randomness in order to find calmness in life by looking at an imbalanced yet balanced sculpture.
