Innovative Chinese artists selected for textiles program

Two Chinese artists have been named winners of a new international biennial initiative that explores different mediums in a design process.

The inaugural 2022 program of the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge focuses on textiles, with entrants encouraged to explore the possibilities and boundaries of textile design.

Shanghai-based artist and designer Bi Rongrong, London-based Hong Kong artist Scarlett Yang and Ghizlane Sahli from Marrakech were selected as winners by a jury for their innovative approaches.

Bi told China Daily that her recent work has focused on various patterns in cities and the relationship between nature and cityscapes, ideas that she used for the challenge.

"When I started my proposal for the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy challenge, it was very clear to me that I wanted to use the metal and the lights, which is inspired by cars and the city, and use patterns as images, weaving as a means to connect various elements together, to express a texture of the city," Bi said.

The Shanghai-based artist, who studied Chinese traditional landscape painting at Sichuan University, wanted to make a connection between her elements during the challenge process.

"Each material has its own independent craftsmanship and language. I need to communicate with technicians in various fields, making multiple samples, and then try to combine these craftsmanship, but this is also the most interesting part, because in my opinion, this connection is the essence of weaving. If warp is a way of thinking, then weft is a language, interweaving them, can express many possibilities," she explained.

For Scarlett Yang, technology plays a key role in her works as she explores digital aspects of fashion textiles.

Yang said her inspiration comes from the fluidity and constant change she sees around her, and explores the "notion of tactility and materiality using digital technologies to speculate on the natural characteristics of bio textile materials, breaking this boundary of the medium of textile".

"I have been exploring the themes of the state of flux and bodily sensitivity as a source of inspiration in my work, and I often reference cross-disciplinary and collaborative innovation projects to see how we can synthesise art, design and science to hybridise craft and technology," Yang said.

To develop their proposed ideas, the three designers will start discussions and exchange of ideas with the Rolls-Royce design team in Goodwood, England, before turning their visions into unique objects.

"This program is a great incentive; it gives me the opportunity to get in touch with very excellent designers and wonderful production teams, which enables me to work more boldly, and opens me some new possibilities working on multi-media field," Bi said.

Sustainability within fashion and textiles is a topic that Yang feels passionate about and winning the challenge means she can further explore her ideas and research.

"A key motivation was for me to explore possible future solutions to make fashion more sustainable, as the current reality of fashion and textile consumables are not circular in nature. In my practice, I am driven to find a way to challenge the system and find a new perspective on how we can design and adapt the lifecycle of materials," Yang said.

The final designs from the three artists will be unveiled and exhibited this summer, before heading on to a global tour.